Distribution Statement A (18-036): Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
DEVELOPMENT OF A CONUS MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY FOR FOX-7
Bradley A. Sleadd, David T. Boruta
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head EOD Technology Division
Indian Head, MD
Joseph W. Clubb
Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division
China Lake, CA
Abstract
1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene, or FOX-7, is an insensitive energetic material originally developed by FOI
Sweden. Theoretical thermochemical calculations indicate that FOX-7 should exhibit nearly equivalent
performance with that of RDX, while being considerably less sensitive to unplanned stimuli. Much like
TATB, FOX-7 contains amino and nitro groups which can participate in intra and intermolecular
hydrogen bonding. This phenomenon is believed to provide both materials with their unusual stability.
FOX-7 has been evaluated in both propellant and explosive applications with very promising results. As
such, a domestic source of FOX-7 is highly desirable since the only current commercial supplier is the
European conglomerate, Eurenco.
As part of a JIMTP program, NSWC IHEODTD has been tasked with developing a domestic
manufacturing capability for FOX-7, as well as providing the four classes of material currently available
from Eurenco. FOX-7 has been synthesized at NSWC IHEODTD at the 5, 20, 100 gram and kilogram
scales, and there is currently an active SOP for the manufacture of FOX-7 at the multi-kilogram scale
with yields typically in the 65-70% range. We have also produced all four classes/particle size
distributions of FOX-7; Class 1 (20-40 µm), Class 2 (50-100 µm), Class 3 (100-200 µm) and Class 4
(250-350 µm) via recrystallization, and have produced Class 1 and Class 4 via recrystallization at the
multi-kilogram scale.
