Properties and detonation performance of tetraamminecopper(II) nitrate (TACN) - a prospective green explosive

The simplest ligand that can be present in energetic complex compounds is ammonia. It has a lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom that can form a coordinate bond with the metal cation. An example of such a compound is tetraamminecopper(II) nitrate (TACN). TACN is considered in the literature as an energy material with potential use in ammunition and civil applications. In the work, the physicochemical properties and detonation performance of TACN were investigated. The compound was identified using differential thermal analysis coupled with thermogravimetry (DTA/TG) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The sensitivity of TACN to mechanical stimuli (friction and impact) was determined. The thermal stability was tested. The critical diameter of the charge with bulk density and the ability to detonation for charges of different densities initiated by an electric detonator were determined. The velocity of detonation was also measured for various diameters and densities of charges and the method of their initiation. The cylinder expansion tests were performed for TACN charges of various densities, and the acceleration ability, detonation pressure and energy as well as the equation of state of detonation products were determined. The calorimetric heats of combustion and detonation were also measured.