Insensitive Energetic Materials and Environmental Awareness - A challenge for Research

Apart front the previous requirements for energetic materials such as performance, safety, life etc., two new components have also come into existence over the last decade: the low vulnerability of munition and environmental awareness. These two requirements have given powerful Impulses to research and development, which will have consequences reaching far into the coming century. The causes for this trend In development are explained, and ways are shown in the contextof insensitive energetic materials as to how research objectives can be attained. A second section presents the problems connected with the environmental compatibility of energetic materials, whereby the phases in the life cycle of munition, i.e. its manufacture, use and disposal are discussed.