Explosive Properties of Isosorbide Dinitrate

ABSTRACT Isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), a nitrate ester with potential energetic applications, was synthesized and comprehensively examined to assess its explosive properties and detonation characteristics. The compound was obtained by a new, simplified method, and the expected structure of the molecule was confirmed with Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Thermal stability and decomposition behavior were investigated through differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetry. The standard enthalpy of formation was determined based on combustion heat measurements. Sensitivity to mechanical stimuli, including impact and friction, was also examined. Detonation parameters were characterized using computational methods, specifically the EXPLO5 and CHEETAH codes. Experimental validation included measurements of the heat of detonation, detonation velocity, and detonation pressure. The detonation velocity tests were performed using short‐circuit sensors for different charge diameters with a constant density of 1.65 g/cm 3 . As the diameter increased, an increase in velocity up to 7100 m/s was observed, which is higher than for pressed 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) charges. A cylinder expansion test was also used to estimate other detonation characteristics, such as the Gurney velocity. The determined Gurney velocity of the tested compound is about 5% higher than that for TNT. The combined theoretical and experimental results provide, for the first time, an in‐depth evaluation of the explosive performance of ISDN, contributing to the broader understanding of nitrate esters in energetic material applications.