Formation of energetic materials using supercritical fluids

A new field of applications of compressed gases is the formation of solid particles with well-defined properties, e.g. the particle size, the particle size distribution, the particle shape, the specific surface area and free of solvent inclusions. It is possible to process moderately solids like energetic materials which are difficult to comminute due to their sensitivity to mechanical or thermal stress. The characteristics of compressed gases allow to vary the morphology of solid particles in a wide range. A pilot plant is presented, which has been built to prepare fine particles by the Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Solutions (RESS process) and Precipitation by a Compressed Fluid Antisolvent (PCA process), In this contribution the micronization of different energetic materials by the RESS and PCA processes will be under investigation.