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DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited.
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MDNT: IM MELT PHASE ENERGETIC BINDER
Omar Abbassi, Philip Samuels, Paul Anderson, Daniel Iwaniuk, Christopher Choi
US Army ARDEC
Picatinny Arsenal, NJ
ABSTRACT
As the push for Insensitive Munition (IM) compliancy in munition systems continues, the maturity
of DNAN-based High Explosive (HE) solutions have contributed to significant improvements
over their legacy counterparts. However, a technology gap still exists as the output of the
DNAN-based IM HE formulations limits their ability to meet the lethality requirements of several
munition systems. A promising high-output melt-phase energetic binder that has been
evaluated in recent years is 1-methyl-3,5-dinitro-1,2,4-triazole (MDNT). In screening tests
MDNT was demonstrated to have detonation velocity similar to that of Composition B, while
simultaneously having shock sensitivity below that of TNT. Follow-on testing confirmed the
performance output of MDNT, and additional shock sensitivity testing illustrated very promising
trends. Pushing the envelope for high-output formulations capable of being utilized in shaped
charge applications, formulations with HMX demonstrated exceptional performance;
comparable to PBXN-9 and approaching LX-14. Characterization and demonstrations included
a side-by-side comparison to LX-14 in testing utilizing a 3.2” Generic Shaped Charge Testing
Unit (GSTCU). Although ARDEC views MDNT as an energetic melt phase material capable of
bridging the technical gap between performance and sensitivity, it is no longer being pursued
due to repeated dermal sensitization occurrences.
INTRODUCTION
MDNT was first synthesized in lab scale quantities by one of the national lab partners of the
Army, and was selected for further evaluation under an OSD joint funding program. Further
quantities of MDNT were produced by ARDEC synthetic chemists and BAE Holston supporting
small scale performance and sensitivity characterization. A subsequently funded effort focused
on a scalable synthetic process to produce MDNT. That process was developed and matured
at the lab scale at Nalas Engineering, and subsequently demonstrated at intermediate and pilot
scales at BAE Holston. A total of approximately 45 lbs of MDNT was produced to support the
latter phases of the effort; the development and characterization of a meltable IM formulation for
anti-armor warhead (AAW) applications.
Formulation efforts with HMX demonstrated a melt-cast explosive with performance properties
rivaling legacy explosives such as PBXN-9 and LX-14. However, due to the limited quantities of
MDNT available, a processing method was never fully realized to achieve high quality casts.
Shock sensitivity and performance remained un-optimized due to the relatively low casting
densities achieved and it was anticipated that similar un-optimized results would be observed in
larger-scale IM and performance demonstrations without a formal casting study and analysis.
