Continuous formation of submicron energetic particles by the flash-evaporation technique

Benedikt Risse (1, 2) , Denis Spitzer (1, 2) , Dominique Hassler (1, 2) , Fabien Schnell (2) , Marc Cornet (1, 2) , Vincent Pichot (1, 2) , Hervé Muhr (3)

1 ISL - Institut franco-allemand de recherches de Saint-Louis
2 NS3E - Nanomatériaux pour les Systèmes Sous Sollicitations Extrêmes
3 LRGP - Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés

The flash-evaporation process is a promising technique in the domain of the large scale production of ultra-fine particles. By means of a common hollow cone nozzle, superheated solutions are steadily sprayed into an evacuated atomization chamber where the solvent evaporates and the solute crystallizes. Separation of the particles from the aerosol is achieved by axial cyclones in a parallel arrangement. A continuous operating pilot plant, from the size of a desk, already produces up to 3 g/h of a product with a particle size below 500 nm. The thermodynamic properties of this process are advantageous for the nanostructuration of various organic compounds such as primary and secondary explosives as well as energetic composites.

Mots clés: Nanocrystallization; RDX; TNT; Flash-evaporation

Domaines: Génie des procédés

Benedikt Risse, Denis Spitzer, Dominique Hassler, Fabien Schnell, Marc Cornet, et al.. Continuous formation of submicron energetic particles by the flash-evaporation technique. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2012, 203, pp.158-165. ⟨10.1016/j.cej.2012.07.032⟩. ⟨hal-00778462⟩