Inkjet printing of nanocomposite high-explosive materials

The ability to design and produce safe and reliable micro-or nano-scale high-explosive materials is limited by traditional processing mechanisms. Direct-write technologies provide a high-throughput processing platform capable of precision patterning. We developed an inkjet printing method to deposit and pattern cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) with micro-scale dimensions. This simple, "one-step" process utilizes evaporative assembly to produce nanocomposite explosive materials. Through the adjustment of various process parameters it is possible to produce materials with a variety of morphologies. As a result of the one-step process all materials are deposited on the target substrate without producing airborne particles thus mitigating environmental, safety and health issues associated with handling small explosive particles.