Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane
Encyclopedia
2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane, also called HNIW, and CL-20, is a nitroamine
explosive with the formula C6H6N12O12, developed by the China Lake
facility, primarily to be used in propellant
s. It has a better oxidizer
-to-fuel
ratio than conventional HMX
or RDX
. It produces 20% more energy than traditional HMX-based propellants, and is widely superior to conventional high-energy propellants and explosives.
While most development of CL-20 has been fielded by the Thiokol Corporation
, the US Navy (through ONR
) has also been interested in CL-20 for use in rocket propellant
s, such as for missiles, as it has lower observability characteristics (e.g., less visible smoke).
CL-20 has not yet been fielded in any production weapons system, but is presently undergoing testing for stability, production capabilities, and other weapons characteristics.
, acetic anhydride
, HBIW, and white fuming nitric acid
by combining these chemicals.
Nitroamine
Nitroamines are organic compounds that contain the nitroamino functional group, R2N-NO2. The R's are the continuation of the ring structure, see RDX. Examples of nitroamines are the explosives HMX, cyclotrimethylene trinitramine, Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane and tetryl...
explosive with the formula C6H6N12O12, developed by the China Lake
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake
- About : is part of under Commander, Navy Installation Command and is located in the Western Mojave Desert region of California, approximately north of Los Angeles. Occupying three counties – Kern, San Bernardino and Inyo – the installation’s closest neighbors are the cities of Ridgecrest,...
facility, primarily to be used in propellant
Propellant
A propellant is a material that produces pressurized gas that:* can be directed through a nozzle, thereby producing thrust ;...
s. It has a better oxidizer
Redox
Redox reactions describe all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation state changed....
-to-fuel
Fuel
Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...
ratio than conventional HMX
HMX
HMX, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive nitroamine high explosive, chemically related to RDX. Like RDX, the name has been variously listed as High Melting eXplosive, Her Majesty's eXplosive, High-velocity Military eXplosive, or High-Molecular-weight rdX.The molecular...
or RDX
RDX
RDX, an initialism for Research Department Explosive, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. It was developed as an explosive which was more powerful than TNT, and it saw wide use in WWII. RDX is also known as cyclonite, hexogen , and T4...
. It produces 20% more energy than traditional HMX-based propellants, and is widely superior to conventional high-energy propellants and explosives.
While most development of CL-20 has been fielded by the Thiokol Corporation
Alliant Techsystems
Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, ', is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated...
, the US Navy (through ONR
Office of Naval Research
The Office of Naval Research , headquartered in Arlington, Virginia , is the office within the United States Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S...
) has also been interested in CL-20 for use in rocket propellant
Rocket propellant
Rocket propellant is mass that is stored in some form of propellant tank, prior to being used as the propulsive mass that is ejected from a rocket engine in the form of a fluid jet to produce thrust. A fuel propellant is often burned with an oxidizer propellant to produce large volumes of very hot...
s, such as for missiles, as it has lower observability characteristics (e.g., less visible smoke).
CL-20 has not yet been fielded in any production weapons system, but is presently undergoing testing for stability, production capabilities, and other weapons characteristics.
Synthesis
It is made from N,N-dimethylformamideDimethylformamide
Dimethylformamide is an organic compound with the formula 2NCH. Commonly abbreviated as DMF , this colourless liquid is miscible with water and the majority of organic liquids. DMF is a common solvent for chemical reactions...
, acetic anhydride
Acetic anhydride
Acetic anhydride, or ethanoic anhydride, is the chemical compound with the formula 2O. Commonly abbreviated Ac2O, it is the simplest isolatable acid anhydride and is a widely used reagent in organic synthesis...
, HBIW, and white fuming nitric acid
Nitric acid
Nitric acid , also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid.Colorless when pure, older samples tend to acquire a yellow cast due to the accumulation of oxides of nitrogen. If the solution contains more than 86% nitric acid, it is referred to as fuming...
by combining these chemicals.
See also
- 2,4,6-Tris(trinitromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine2,4,6-Tris(trinitromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine2,4,6-Tris-1,3,5-triazine is a chemical compound that is a derivative of triazine first prepared in 1995. It is synthesized by destructive nitration of 2,4,6-tricarboxyl-1,3,5-triazine...
- 4,4’-Dinitro-3,3’-diazenofuroxan (DDF)
- HeptanitrocubaneHeptanitrocubaneHeptanitrocubane is a new experimental high explosive based on the cubic eight-carbon cubane molecule and closely related to octanitrocubane. Seven of the eight hydrogen atoms at the corners of the cubane molecule are replaced by nitro groups, giving the final molecular formula .As with...
- HHTDDHHTDDHHTDD is a powerful but moisture sensitive explosive compound. It is essentially an open analogue of the cyclic nitroamine cage compounds such as CL-20...
- OctanitrocubaneOctanitrocubaneOctanitrocubane is a high explosive that, like TNT, is shock-insensitive , not detonating even when struck by a hammer...