FOX-7
Encyclopedia
FOX-7 or 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (DADNE) is an insensitive high power explosive
compound. It was first synthesized in 1998 by the FOA Defence Research Establishment
(Sweden
).
FOX-7 is similar to the insensitive chemical compound TATB
, which is a benzene
ring compound with three amino and three nitro groups. FOX-7 has a two-carbon backbone rather than a benzene
ring, but the amino and nitro
groups have similar effects in both cases according to published reports on sensitivity and chemical decay processes of FOX-7. FOX-7 is today produced by Eureco Bofors
AB in Sweden.
Its explosive properties appear extremely favorable; in addition to its insensitive properties, the detonation velocity of mixtures of 80% FOX-7 plus binders
are as high as Composition B
, and nearly pure FOX-7 based plastic bonded explosives are slightly superior to RDX
.
FOX-7 has been calculated to have a detonation velocity of 8,870 m/s.
Due to its small-scale production, the cost of FOX-7 is relatively high. However, the production is based on commercial starting material and the synthesis is uncomplicated. The price is therefore predicted to fall as production scale increases. There is no current full scale use of FOX-7, but it is being tested at several military research centers. The need for less sensitive munition is the most important driver for testing FOX-7.
Insensitive munitions
Insensitive munitions are munitions that are chemically stable enough to withstand mechanical shocks, fire, and impact by shrapnel, but that can still explode as intended to destroy their targets.-Description:...
compound. It was first synthesized in 1998 by the FOA Defence Research Establishment
Swedish Defence Research Agency
The Swedish Defence Research Agency is a Swedish government agency for defence research that reports to the Ministry of Defence. It has its headquarters in Kista, Stockholm and other locations in Grindsjön south of Stockholm, Linköping and Umeå...
(Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
).
FOX-7 is similar to the insensitive chemical compound TATB
TATB
TATB, or triaminotrinitrobenzene, is an aromatic explosive, based on the basic six-carbon benzene ring structure with three nitro functional groups and three amine groups attached, alternating around the ring....
, which is a benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
ring compound with three amino and three nitro groups. FOX-7 has a two-carbon backbone rather than a benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
ring, but the amino and nitro
Nitro compound
Nitro compounds are organic compounds that contain one or more nitro functional groups . They are often highly explosive, especially when the compound contains more than one nitro group and is impure. The nitro group is one of the most common explosophores used globally...
groups have similar effects in both cases according to published reports on sensitivity and chemical decay processes of FOX-7. FOX-7 is today produced by Eureco Bofors
Bofors
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...
AB in Sweden.
Its explosive properties appear extremely favorable; in addition to its insensitive properties, the detonation velocity of mixtures of 80% FOX-7 plus binders
Binder (material)
-See also:*Adhesive or Glue*Cement*Paint...
are as high as Composition B
Composition B
Composition B, colloquially "comp B", is an explosive consisting of castable mixtures of RDX and TNT. It is used as the main explosive filling in artillery projectiles, rockets, land mines, hand grenades, sticky bombs and various other munitions...
, and nearly pure FOX-7 based plastic bonded explosives are slightly superior to RDX
RDX
RDX, an initialism for Research Department Explosive, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. It was developed as an explosive which was more powerful than TNT, and it saw wide use in WWII. RDX is also known as cyclonite, hexogen , and T4...
.
FOX-7 has been calculated to have a detonation velocity of 8,870 m/s.
Due to its small-scale production, the cost of FOX-7 is relatively high. However, the production is based on commercial starting material and the synthesis is uncomplicated. The price is therefore predicted to fall as production scale increases. There is no current full scale use of FOX-7, but it is being tested at several military research centers. The need for less sensitive munition is the most important driver for testing FOX-7.