Interaction and thermal studies on graphene oxide in NC/DEGDN/GO nanocomposites.

Before considering the uses of graphene oxide (GO) in nitrate ester-based materials for performance and safety improvement, its interaction, compatibility and dispersion with the host matrices need to be well understood. This work addresses the interaction and dispersity of GO with nitrocellulose (NC)/diethylene glycol dinitrate (DEGDN)-based nanocomposites. The GO and DEGDN were successfully synthesised and characterised.

Chemical Modification of β-Cyclodextrins: Balancing Soft and Rigid Domains in Complex Structures.

Crystalline polymers such as β-cyclodextrin (βCD) can be modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) diglycidyl ether cross-linkers (262, 394, 500 Da). In this work, the authors show that the quantity and length of the PEG soft segments influence the solubility and malleability of the products, which are water soluble and easily converted to nitrated analogues under standard reaction conditions. Inert and nitrated derivatives containing longer PEG segments showed the ability to self-heal.

Ultrasonic Studies of Solid Azobenzene-Decorated Polymer Thin Films.

This work investigates the effect of ultrasound on switching of azobenzene isomers to their trans counterparts in solid films of methyl methacrylate and methacryloyloxyazobenzene copolymers [P(MMA/MOAB)]. Ultraviolet-visible and H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies demonstrate that 46% of the cis isomer converts to the trans form purely by ultrasonic agitation and 46% converts to the trans isomer by localized ultrasound-induced heating effects. Comparative studies of isomerization by ultrasound wave, heat, and visible irradiation show that ultrasound exposure requires a longer time to switch the cis-to-trans conformation.

The spatial distribution patterns of condensed phase post-blast explosive residues formed during detonation.

The continued usage of explosive devices, as well as the ever growing threat of 'dirty' bombs necessitates a comprehensive understanding of particle dispersal during detonation events in order to develop effectual methods for targeting explosive and/or additive remediation efforts. Herein, the distribution of explosive analytes from controlled detonations of aluminised ammonium nitrate and an RDX-based explosive composition were established by systematically sampling sites positioned around each firing. This is the first experimental study to produce evidence that the post-blast residue mass can distribute according to an approximate inverse-square law model, while also demonstrating for the first time that distribution trends can vary depending on individual analytes.

Morphological Variations of Explosive Residue Particles and Implications for Understanding Detonation Mechanisms.

The possibility of recovering undetonated explosive residues following detonation events is well-known; however, the morphology and chemical identity of these condensed phase postblast particles remains undetermined. An understanding of the postblast explosive particle morphology would provide vital information during forensic examinations, allowing rapid initial indication of the explosive material to be microscopically determined prior to any chemical analyses and thereby saving time and resources at the crucial stage of an investigation. In this study, condensed phase particles collected from around the detonations of aluminized ammonium nitrate and RDX-based explosive charges were collected in a novel manner utilizing SEM stubs.