Synthesis and characterization of urea nitrate and nitrourea

Authors

Jimmie C. Oxley, University of Rhode Island
James L. Smith, University of Rhode Island
Sravanthi Vadlamannati, University of Rhode Island
Austin C. Brown, University of Rhode Island
Guang Zhang, University of Rhode Island
Devon S. Swanson, University of Rhode Island
Jonathan Canino, University of Rhode Island

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

6-1-2013

Abstract

Urea nitrate (UN) has not found use as a legitimate explosive but is commonly used as an improvised explosive. The dehydration product of UN is nitrourea (NU). Visually both UN and NU are white solids that both melt around 1608C. Other properties differ markedly as might be expected from an inorganic salt (UN) and an organic molecular compound (NU). An extensive physical characterization of NU and UN is reported. Two reported routes to the NU product are compared and a decomposition mechanism of UN proposed. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics

Volume

38

Issue

3

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Oxley, Jimmie C., James L. Smith, Sravanthi Vadlamannati, Austin C. Brown, Guang Zhang, Devon S. Swanson, and Jonathan Canino. "Synthesis and characterization of urea nitrate and nitrourea." Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics 38, 3 (2013): 335-344. doi: 10.1002/prep.201200178.