Synthesis and Study of the Thermal and Ballistic Properties of SMX

The high-density tetranitrate ester 1,4-dinitrato-2,3-dinitro-2,3-bis(nitratomethylene)butane (SMX) was synthesized. The methods of obtaining and isolating the intermediates were optimized. The differences between the syntheses of SMX by a four- and five-step scheme were investigated. Combustion of SMX and its catalysis was studied. The possibility of replacing NG as the main plasticizer in a double-base propellant composition was demonstrated. SMX particles were shown to have pronounced crystal faceting using scanning electron microscopy. The decomposition rate equation was determined. The amount of SMX decomposed under isothermal conditions (90 °C) was 0.8 wt.% after 60 min. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that heating SMX results in two different processes – decomposition and evaporation, with SMX evaporating faster than it decomposes.