Mechanistic elucidation of shock response of bis(1,2,4-oxadiazole)bis(methylene) dinitrate (BOM): A ReaxFF molecular dynamics investigation

The use of trinitrotoluene (TNT) in industrial processes or military operations presents a significant threat to both the environment and human health due to its toxicity. Recently, it has been discovered that bis(1,2,4-oxadiazole)bis(methylene) dinitrate (BOM) can be an appropriate substitute of TNT due to its low sensitivity, high detonation velocity, and nearly insignificant impact on the surrounding environment. In this study, we utilize molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with a ReaxFF force field to investigate the thermomechanical and chemical response of BOM to shock loading. We simulate shocks using the Hugoniostat technique and observe shock-induced, volume-expanding exothermic reactions following a short induction time for strong enough insults. We analyze the shock behavior at various pressures to determine the conditions necessary to initiate detonation and evaluate the consequent events of detonation. A transition between unreacted and reacted materials has been observed and several detonation properties, such as detonation pressure and velocity, have been calculated at the Chapman-Jouguet state. We elucidate the reaction initiation pathways by predicting the intermediates and final products of the exothermic reaction. The quantity of intermediates and products has been studied for different applied shock loadings to understand the effect of loadings on chemical reactions. This study illustrates how reactive MD simulations can be used to characterize the physics and chemistry of high-energy materials subjected to shock loading, and we believe that our research can assist to shed light on numerous features of BOM that may establish it as a viable alternative to TNT.

Automated summary

In this study, molecular dynamics simulations with a ReaxFF force field were used to investigate the thermomechanical and chemical response of BOM to shock loading. It was found that BOM has low sensitivity, high detonation velocity, and minimal impact on the environment, making it a suitable substitute for TNT. The study analyzed the conditions for detonation initiation, calculated detonation properties, and predicted reaction intermediates and products.