Crystal structure and explosive performance of a new CL-20/benzaldehyde cocrystal

Abstract A new cocrystal of 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitrohexaazaiso-wurtzitane (CL-20) and benzaldehyde with a molar ratio of 1:2 was prepared by a slow solvent evaporation method. The crystal structure of the CL-20/benzaldehyde cocrystal characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD) reveals that the cocrystal is formed by intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions and belongs to the triclinic system. Moreover, impact sensitivity and friction sensitivity tests of CL-20/benzaldehyde cocrystal were conducted to evaluate its security. The detonation velocity of the CL-20/benzaldehyde cocrystal is 7455 m/s, lower than that of CL-20 and similar to that of TNT.