Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Are there boron-based explosives?

angeltxilon - 27-7-2020 at 11:22

I refer to explosives that have boron instead of carbon, or where boron is a common constituent.

..

Boranes have a higher energy density than hydrocarbons.

Following this logic, hypothetical boron-based explosives should be more energetic / mass than conventional ones.
The final products would, however, be partly solid.

Is this correct? Are there boron-based explosives?


[Edited on 27-7-2020 by angeltxilon]

mayko - 27-7-2020 at 14:47

Boron-based "zip" fuels were explored as rocket propellants for a time, but were ultimately abandoned for being too dangerous and for leaving boron trioxide caked on the inside of the engine

IIRC one of the programs had an emblem featuring a boron-powered rocket, which was later yanked and redesigned for security reasons (they thought the green flame gave away too much).

Whathappensif - 27-7-2020 at 20:59

Quote: Originally posted by angeltxilon  
I refer to explosives that have boron instead of carbon, or where boron is a common constituent.

..

Boranes have a higher energy density than hydrocarbons.

Following this logic, hypothetical boron-based explosives should be more energetic / mass than conventional ones.
The final products would, however, be partly solid.

Is this correct? Are there boron-based explosives?


[Edited on 27-7-2020 by angeltxilon]


Yes

Synthesis, Characterization, and Explosive Properties of the Nitrogen-Rich Borazine [H3N3B3(N3)3]

Robert T. Paine, Wolfgang Koestle, Theodore T. Borek, Gary L. Wood, Eugene A. Pruss, Eileen N. Duesler, and Michael A. Hiskey

View Author Information
Cite this: Inorg. Chem. 1999, 38, 16, 3738–3743
Publication Date:July 23, 1999
https://doi.org/10.1021/ic990316b
Copyright © 1999 American Chemical Society

Attachment: paine1999.pdf (152kB)
This file has been downloaded 398 times

DraconicAcid - 27-7-2020 at 21:23

I suspect that there aren't many of them, since boranes and related compounds tend to have reactions with much smaller activation energies than similar carbon-based compounds. Thus, they'd be less likely to wait around to detonate, and just undergo the reaction on a whim.

Nitrosio - 29-7-2020 at 00:02

http://pyrobin.com/files/Borazin2.pdf