Explosives Science
Current efforts in explosives science cover many areas critical to national security. One particular area is the need for countermeasures against explosive threats.
Comprehensive explosives process
Los Alamos National Laboratory offers a comprehensive explosives process. This process leverages entire technical divisions dedicated to explosives science. Los Alamos scientists combine advanced expertise and capabilities with modern facilities. These assets enable LACED to offer unmatched R&D partnering opportunities to perform critical work in explosives detection.
Capabilities
Analytical chemistry capabilities include the following:
- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
- Full suite of analytical instrumentation for explosives characterization
- Gas chromatography
- High-performance liquid chromatography
- Neutron scattering
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
- Optical microscopy
- Particle sizing
- Quality assurance
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
- Trace detection
- Thermo-gravimetric analysis
- Thermal diffusivity
- X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
Micromechanical testing
Performance testing of explosives from bench scale to demonstration scale
Polymorphism
Sensitivity testing
Spectroscopy capabilities include the following:
- UV/Visible
- Vibrational
- Terahertz and Ultrafast
Surface/interface science
Capabilities in synthesis/formulation of explosives include the following:
- Green pathways
- High-energy density energetics
- High-performance propellants
- Nano-energetics
- New materials
Thermal analysis and thermal ignition testing
