Two novel TNB energetic cocrystals with low melting point: a potential strategy to construct melt cast explosive carriers

Abstract

Two novel low melting point cocrystals were obtained by cocrystallizing TNB (1,3,5-trinitrobenzene) with 1,4-DNI (1,4-dinitrimidazole) and DNMT (1-methyl-3,5-dinitro-1,2,4-triazole), respectively. Cocrystal TNB/1,4-DNI (1) and TNB/DNMT (2) both belong to the orthorhombic system with a 1 : 1 ratio. Compared with the pure TNB, both cocrystals have low melting points (T_m < 90 °C) and better predicted detonation properties (D > 7700 m s⁻¹). Most notably, cocrystal 1 shows an ability to reform the cocrystal again after melting and cooling, which makes it possible to be used as a new type of melt-cast explosive carrier to replace TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene). Thus, cocrystallization provides a potential strategy to construct the new melt-cast explosive carriers in the future.