Encapsulation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine (RDX) onto amino-functionalized mesoporous silica.

Amine functionalized disk type mesoporous silica was directly synthesized by co-condensation method for the encapsulation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine (RDX), aiming for the desensitization of such high energetic material. The adsorption capacities were measured by TG analysis and pore-filling adsorption efficiencies of RDX were estimated based on sorption amounts with respect to pore volume of amino-functionalized mesoporous silica. The RDX was encapsulated as nanoparticles in the (NH2)-INC-2 due to the confinement effect within the size of mesopores and shows adsorption efficiency upto 80% at with respect to pore-filling. The confinement effect is also depicted by lowering of the T(rho) (190 degrees C) when encapsulated compared with that of free RDX. The non-neutralized amino-functionalized (cationic (NH3+)-INC-2) gave more 80% adsorption efficiency at 25% loading and the T(rho) were comparatively higher due to the ionic interaction between RDX and quaternary amine group.