Electrostatic Discharge Resistant Energetic Materials
- Technology Benefits
- Reducedrisk of ignition by electrostatic dischargeImprovesstability for energetic compositesIncreasedsafety due to reduction of unexpected activation of explosives
- Technology Application
- MilitaryPoliceMiningand quarryingOiland gas exploration
- Detailed Technology Description
- Researchers at INL havedeveloped methods for reducing the sensitivity of a non-high explosive materialto electrostatic discharge without appreciably impacting the material’sresponse to other initiation methods. This is achieved by adding small amounts(1-4 volume %) of graphene nanoplatelets or carbon nanotubes to increase theconductivity of a powdered composite energetic material. The addition of carbonincreases the powder’s conductivity by 10 orders of magnitude. When a currentis applied, it passes through the added carbon and does not heat the powder.Because the carbon constitutes a very small fraction of the total volume, thematerial remains fully responsive to normal ignition methods.
- Others
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LICENSINGOPPORTUNITY:
IdahoNational Laboratory (INL) and its M&O Contractor Battelle Energy Alliance,LLC (BEA) are currently looking for commercialization partner(s) interested inentering into a license agreement for the purpose of commercializing thetechnology described below.
INTELLECTUALPROPERTY STATUS:
US Patent No. 9,481,614, “Energetic Materials andMethods of Tailoring electrostatic Discharge Sensitivity of Energetic Materials,”issued on 11-1-16, BEA Docket No. BA-793.
DEVELOPMENTSTATUS:
This technology has been tested and validated at thebench scale. Additional development will be required to demonstrate a pilotscale process. BEA may be in a position to support additional research anddevelopment of this technology under a mutually acceptable Cooperative Research& Development Agreement (CRADA), Strategic Partnership Projects (SPP)agreement, or a similar agreement, all of which are subject to approval by DOE.
FactSheet: https://factsheets.inl.gov/FactSheets/electrostatic-discharge-resistance.pdf
Publications:
- Paper:“Controlling theelectrostatic discharge ignition sensitivity of composite energetic materialsusing carbon nanotube additives,” Journal ofElectrostatics, October 2014, pp 428-432
- Paper:“Desensitizingnano powders to electrostatic discharge ignition,”Journal of Electrostatics, August 2015, pp 102-107
- *Abstract
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TECHNOLOGYMARKETING SUMMARY:
Energetic materials,such as explosives and pyrotechnics, may be activated by initiation ordetonation devices, including flame ignition such as fuses or a priming explosive,impact, chemical interaction such as reactive or activating fluid, orelectrical ignition. Electrical ignition may be directly applied to the highexplosive or may be used to activate a priming material or blasting cap, whichthen ignites the high explosive.
Remote activation andcontrol systems for electrically-initiated activation are often sensitive toelectrical conditions, including voltage and current transients (e.g.electrostatic discharge) and electromagnetic interference, as well as thermalheating in the control circuitry. As a result of this sensitivity, prematureinitiation of the explosive charge has been known to occur with unacceptablefrequency, resulting in unintended damaged and/or personal injury or death.Most means to reduce electrical sensitivity strongly impacts the material’sresponse to other ignition methods, making it less effective or unsuitable forthe original application.
- Country/Region
- USA
