Correlation of Structure and Sensitivity in Inorganic Azides I Effect of Non‐Bonded Nitrogen Nitrogen Distances

Abstract

Abstract Sensitivity of explosives is a subject of keen interest to all those involved in the handling of these materials. Current ability to predict sensitivity is based on a series of empirical rules for different classes of explosive compounds and simple oxygen balance and the ratios of C and H to oxygen are typical empirical parameters. Whilst these may be valid for organic classes, many inorganic materials do not conform to any of these patterns. Inorganic azides do not have any C, H or O atoms so oxygen balance is irrelevant. Inorganic azides display a range of sensitivity from lithium azide, which is non‐energetic and insensitive, to copper(I) azide which is highly sensitive. A number of other parameters such as enthalpy of formation again do not provide a simple correlation with sensitivity.