Low-sensitivity explosive compositions and method for making explosive compositions

1 . A method for preparing an explosive, comprising:

combining 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.0 5,9 0 3,11 ]-dodecane (CL-20) particles having an average particle size not greater than 30 microns with a plasticized binder to form an explosive composition; and

granulating the explosive composition into the explosive, the explosive comprising 85 weight percent to about 96 weight percent of the CL-20 particles and about 4 weight percent to 15 weight percent of the plasticized binder.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size not greater than 30 microns with the plasticized binder comprises combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size of not greater than 10 microns with the plasticized binder.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size not greater than 30 microns with the plasticized binder comprises combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size in a range of 1 micron to 4 microns with the plasticized binder.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size not greater than 30 microns with the plasticized binder comprises combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size in a range of 1 micron to 2 microns with the plasticized binder.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size not greater than 30 microns with the plasticized binder to form the explosive composition comprises forming the explosive composition to have 100 percent of the CL-20 particles having a particle size less than 10 microns.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size not greater than 30 microns with the plasticized binder to form the explosive composition comprises forming the explosive composition to have 100 percent of the CL-20 particles having a particle size less than 4 microns.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size not greater than 30 microns with the plasticized binder to form the explosive composition comprises forming the explosive composition to have the CL-20 particles at 85 weight percent to 95 weight percent of a total weight of the explosive composition.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size not greater than 30 microns with the plasticized binder to form the explosive composition comprises forming the explosive composition to have the CL-20 particles at 94 weight percent to 95 weight percent of a total weight of the explosive composition.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining CL-20 particles having an average particle size not greater than 30 microns with the plasticized binder comprises combining the CL-20 particles with cellulose acetate butyrate and bis-dinitropropyl acetal/bis-dinitropropyl formal.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the explosive composition has a shock sensitivity under 140 cards, as measured by the NOL Card Gap Test.

11 . A method for preparing an explosive having a total weight, the method comprising:

providing an aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles, the CL-20 particles having an average particle size not greater than 30 microns;

combining the aqueous dispersion with a lacquer comprising a plasticized binder to form a slurry;

agitating the slurry and removing the lacquer to form coated granules; and

drying the coated granules to provide an explosive having a total weight, the total weight of the dry coated granules comprising 85 weight percent to about 96 weight percent CL-20 and about 4 weight percent to 15 weight percent of the plasticized binder.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles comprises providing the aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles having an average particle size of not greater than 10 microns.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles comprises providing the aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles having an average particle size in a range of 1 micron to 4 microns.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles comprises providing the aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles having an average particle size in a range of 1 micron to 2 microns.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles comprises providing the aqueous dispersion with 100 percent of the CL-20 particles having a particle size less than 10 microns.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles comprises providing the aqueous dispersion with 100 percent of the CL-20 particles having a particle size less than 4 microns.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles comprises providing the aqueous dispersion having 85 weight percent to 95 weight percent of CL-20 particles.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the aqueous dispersion comprising epsilon polymorph CL-20 particles comprises providing the aqueous dispersion having 94 weight percent to 95 weight percent CL-20 particles.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein combining the aqueous dispersion with the lacquer comprising the plasticized binder to form the slurry comprises combining the aqueous dispersion with the plasticized binder that comprises cellulose acetate butyrate and bis-dinitropropyl acetal/bis-dinitropropyl formal.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the explosive has a shock sensitivity under 140 cards, as measured by the NOL Card Gap Test.