Electrostatic Discharge Resistant Energetic Materials
Reducedrisk of ignition by electrostatic dischargeImprovesstability for energetic compositesIncreasedsafety due to reduction of unexpected activation of explosives
MilitaryPoliceMiningand quarryingOiland gas exploration
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.
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:
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