Synergy between ultrasonication and a polymer matrix in reducing particle size of molecular explosives during crystallization

Abstract

A molecular explosive was crystallized inside the polymer matrix by quenching while simultaneously applying ultrasound. We found that the resulting nanoparticles were 2–3 orders of magnitude smaller than those produced by an identical method without ultrasonication. We found that synergy exists between ultrasonication and polymer matrix in reducing the size of particles crystallized by quenching.