• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.543-550
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• 2017

Various chemical properties including density and heat of formation of 1-substitued trinitroimidazoles (TNIs) were estimated by using density functional theory (DFT). Using chemical properties estimated by DFT, explosive performance and sensitivity of 1-substitued TNIs were analyzed by following the ADD Method-1 procedure. The results were displayed on two-dimensional performance-sensitivity plot, and were compared with those of explosive molecules commonly used in many military systems. Different 1-substituents of TNI made that both explosive performance and impact sensitivity were changed significantly. Methyl substituted TNI became moderately insensitive and slightly less powerful. Amino, fluoro, picryl, and difluoroamino substituted TNIs were highly powerful like RDX and HMX, but greatly sensitive. Nitro substituted TNI was predicted to be extremely sensitive to be handled as a secondary explosive.