Next Gen explosives would provide more power and safety without pollution

Washington, May 27 : Scientists in Germany are reporting development of a new generation of explosives that is more powerful than TNT and other existing explosives, less apt to detonate accidentally, and produce fewer toxic byproducts.

In a new study, Thomas M. Klapotke and Carles Miro Sabate point out that conventional explosives such as TNT, RDX and HMX, widely-used in military weapons, are rich in carbon and tend to produce toxic gases upon ignition.

In addition to polluting the environment, these materials are also highly sensitive to physical shock, such as hard impacts and electric sparks, making their handling extremely dangerous.

According to researchers, greener and safer explosives are needed.

To meet this need, Klapotke and Sabate turned to a recently explored class of materials called tetrazoles, which derive most of their explosive energy from nitrogen instead of carbon.

They identified two promising tetrazoles: HBT and G2ZT.

The researchers developed tiny "bombs" out of these materials and detonated them in the laboratory.

The materials showed less sensitivity to shock than conventional explosives and produced fewer toxic products when burned, noted the researchers.

The research team's study of these more environmentally friendly explosives will appear in ACS Chemistry of Materials, a bi-weekly journal.

ANI