Explosives and Energetic Materials

Explosives and energetic materials store and rapidly release large amounts of energy for demolition, munitions, missile propulsion, and explosive-forming applications. Examples include gunpowder, flash powder, flashless powder, thermite, rocket propellants, and explosive aerogels. Gunpowder is an explosive mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate that burns rapidly. Flash powder is a pyrotechnic material that contains an oxidizer and a metallic fuel. Flashless powder can be made from artillery feedstock propellants and used in small arms ammunition. Thermite is a pyrotechnic material made of a metal oxide (usually iron) and aluminum powder. Rocket propellants come in both liquid and solid form. Explosive aerogels are newer explosives and energetic materials with structures that can be manipulated on the nanoscale.