Use of Nanodiamonds as a Reducing Agent in a Chlorate‐based Energetic Composition

To our knowledge, the incorporation of nanodiamond (nD) as a reducing agent in an energetic composition has never been reported in the literature. Diamond exhibits particularly interesting physico-chemical properties: high density, good energetic potential, and relatively low thermal sensitivity. This study proposes to demonstrate that an explosive energetic composition can be obtained by physical mixing of nD and potassium chlorate (PC). First, the energetic characteristics of this formulation were compared to those of the famous “white powder” made of PC and saccharose and discovered by the French chemist Berthollet in the 18th century. In the second part, the combustion of pelletized nD-based mixtures initiated by a laser beam was studied by time resolved cinematography. The deflagration velocity was measured on the most energetic composition, which has a slightly negative oxygen balance (OB=−30.1%).