Nathaniel B. Zuckerman LLNL 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA 94550
zuckerman2@llnl.gov
Statement A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Modernization and Capabilities of the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory Pilot Facility for
Remotely Controlled Energetic Materials Synthesis
Nathaniel B. Zuckerman
*
,
Philip F. Pagoria
*
, Alan J. DeHope
*
, Edwin F.
Virgin III
*
, Fred E. Wade
**
, William L. Collins
**
, and Brock K. Parsons
**
Materials Science Division
*
and
Defense Technologies Engineering Division
**
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA USA 94550
zuckerman2@llnl.gov
Abstract:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has invested in the modernization of their
synthesis pilot facility for the kilo-scale preparation of energetic materials and
precursors. This capability will serve to accelerate the research and development
progression toward new energetic materials as well as for the optimization of
processes for existing conventional materials. The first two planned campaigns for
the facility will include the nitration of 2,6-diaminopyrazine-N-oxide (DAPO) to 2,6-
diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-N-oxide (LLM-105), and the amination of 1,3,5-
trichloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene to TATB. The presentation will focus on the design
and agile capabilities of the pilot facility, the transition from all glass vessels to the
new two-story integrated skid with glass-lined carbon steel reactors, and the efforts
to provide optimal operator safety by utilizing a custom Wonderware® platform for
reagent additions and the majority of process manipulations.
Keywords: LLM-105, TATB, Pilot Scale Synthesis, SCADA
Disclaimer
This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United
States government. Neither the United States government nor Lawrence Livermore National
Security, LLC, nor any of their employees makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or
assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of
any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not
infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process,
or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute
or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC. The views and opinions of authors expressed
herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or Lawrence
Livermore National Security, LLC, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement
purposes.
Introduction
The energetic materials synthesis group of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
delivers research capabilities for the development of new and conventional high explosives,
with a primary focus on insensitive high explosives.
1-4
Our synthetic chemists work primarily
within Livermore’s High Explosives Applications Facility (HEAF), which provides
