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Synthesis and Evaluation of 3‐Picrylamino‐1,2,4‐Triazole (PATO) Formulations
Author(s) -
Leonard Philip,
Bowden Patrick,
Shorty Marvin,
Schmitt Matt
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.56
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1521-4087
pISSN - 0721-3115
DOI - 10.1002/prep.201800144
Subject(s) - tatb , explosive material , detonation , materials science , national laboratory , triazole , azide , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , engineering physics
3‐Picrylamino‐1,2,4‐triazole (PATO) is a thermally stable explosive invented at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) almost half a century ago. Despite a rapid and high yielding synthesis, performance data for this promising explosive are scant. We prepared material using Coburn's synthesis, and discovered that the particle size distribution and morphology leads to difficulty in pressing formulations to high density. Three formulations were made using glycidyl azide polymer (GAP), FK‐800, and Estane 5703/nitroplasticizer (NP) as binders. The maximum pressed density of these formulations was 89 % of theoretical maximum density (TMD). We determined detonation velocity and, for the FK‐800 formulation, detonation pressure. The performance of PATO is similar to TATB at equivalent pressed density.