skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Cryocycling of energetic materials: Status report for FY94

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/86987· OSTI ID:86987

The Cryocycling of Energetic Materials Project is sponsored by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on advanced munition technologies. This MOU is an agreement between the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense (Office of Munitions) that facilitates the development of technologies of mutual interest to the two Departments. The cryocycling project is one of several that focus on demilitarization aspects of conventional weapons and weapon systems. During FY94 the project pursued the development of analytical and numerical models that can be used to describe and optimize the cryocycling process for preparing energetic materials for recycle and reuse. In addition, the demilitarization stockpile of the Department of Defense was analyzed to identify candidate munitions for the process, and pilot scale cryocycling operations were begun at an industrial contractor. When a material is cryocycled, it is repeatedly subjected to cycles of rapid cooling in a liquid nitrogen bath at 77 K followed by warming to ambient temperature. In laboratory and pilot scale demonstrations, the authors have shown that cryocycling can dramatically reduce the size of a variety of propellant grains and a number of cast and plastic bonded explosives.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
86987
Report Number(s):
SAND-95-8235; ON: DE95015268; TRN: AHC29521%%43
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jul 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English