Detonation nanodiamonds (DND) represent a unique material combining the properties of a rather passive diamond core with an active carbon shell. The effect of disaggregated DND (T-DND) and detonation carbon [diamond batch mixture (T-DBM)] obtained in an explosion of tetryl (2,4,6-trinitro-N-methyl-N-nitroaniline) and preliminary deposited onto ammonium perchlorate granules in the process of its crystallization on the burning rate of a paste-like propellant is studied. T-DND is preliminary cured at 430°C for two hours. The method used in the present study is chemical deposition (forced crystallization) of ammonium perchlorate from a saturated aqueous solution also containing T-DND or T-DBM by isopropanol in the ratio of 1/2. The burning rates of compositions are determined as functions of pressure in the range up to 1200 atm. It is demonstrated that the use of detonation nanodiamonds and diamond batch mixture leads to an increase in the propellant burning rate approximately by 26 and 15%, respectively, while the temperature of combustion products decreases approximately by 240°C at 100 atm.

The process of anodic oxidation of aluminum and its alloys in the presence of a diamond blend (DB) obtained by detonation of tetryl ( N -methyl-2,4,6-trinitrophenylnitramine) is studied. It is shown that the use of a DB is highly promising for the preparation of a corrosion-resistant wearproof high-hardness anodic oxidation coating, the parameters of which are 1.6 times higher than those of the coatings obtained by the standard process in a standard electrolyte. The concentration of the DB in the sulfuric acid electrolyte is 2–3 g/L.

In this study, an attempt is made to predict the yield of detonation nanodiamonds (DND) from explosives with still underestimated capabilities, such as trinitrobenzene, hexanitroazobenzene, tetranitrobenzotriazolobenzotriazole, trinitrotriaminobenzene, trinitrophenol, and benzotrifuroxan. Knowing the detonation velocity of explosives, one can determine the power density of explosives and then the yield of DNDs on the basis of previously determined dependences or directly determine the yield of DND in a narrow range for each explosive and subsequently verify the obtained values experimentally.

A method of obtaining detonation nanodiamonds from tetryl by means of blasting the latter in a water shell with the explosive/water mass ratio of 1/(10–14) is developed. The proposed method ensures the yield of the target product in the amount of 6–7 wt.% of the initial mass of the reagent with the content of nanodiamonds in the resultant batch mixture equal to 57 $$\,\pm\,$$ 6 wt.%. It is demonstrated that the use of individual explosives offers some advantages over the known multicomponent mixtures in terms of cost efficiency and safety of the charge preparation process.

The paper presents the results of studying the nickel electroplating process in the presence of nanodiamond additives. It shows that the use of detonation nanodiamonds (DND) and diamond explosive charge (DC) obtained by explosion of tetryl (N-methyl-2,4,6-trinitrophenylnitramine) can significantly improve the physicochemical properties of nickel platings: increase the microhardness up to 60 % (up to 448 kgf/mm2 – 4393 MPa), obtain a non-porous nickel plaiting and reduce wear up to 28 times. The most effective was the use of non-expensive nanodiamonds, but cheap diamond charge obtained by the explosion of tetrile.

The process of detonation synthesis of nanodiamonds from ternary systems was developed with conversion tetryl as their main component. The dependence of the yield of detonation nanodiamonds and their content in the diamond blend on the tetryl content in the ternary composition was shown as well as that of the yield of detonation nanodiamonds on the oxygen balance of the blend. The conditions and composition of the explosive were found to determine the maximum yield of detonation nanodiamonds, 8.2 wt %, based on which it is possible to develop a more economical and efficient industrial technology for the production of detonation nanodiamonds: the use of explosive compositions containing 50 wt % or more conversion tetryl, respectively, a decrease in the content of expensive and scarce RDX; high content of nanodiamond in the diamond blend, which reduces the cost of chemical cleaning; the possibility of a simple selection of the required oxygen balance of the explosive composition.

The results of a study on the production of graphite–diamond nanocompositions by partial oxidation of a detonation synthesis blend in aqueous solutions of nitric acid under pressure in the temperature range 120–230°C are presented. A part of the graphite shell was subjected to selective oxidation. According to the results of kinetic studies in a 400 mL autoclave, an oxidation process scheme is proposed, which is based on a radical chain reaction involving nitrogen dioxide and carbon of graphite/graphene shell on the surface of the particles. The synthesis conditions for the main types of graphite–diamond nanocomposites of various oxidation states are determined. On a pilot installation in a swinging titanium autoclave of a 12 L capacity, experimental batches of the product were accumulated, which made it possible to assess the possibility of scaling the developed laboratory process.

A technology is developed for producing detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) from individual compounds (tetryl and picric acid) and binary compositions with a tetryl content of ≥50 wt %. A DND yield of up to 7.5 wt % is achieved. The main trends in the dependence of the DND yield on the content of tetryl mixed with TNT, RDX, and picric acid are established. The dependences of the DND content in the diamond batch on the composition of the explosive and the pressure in the Chapman–Jouguet plane are determined.

The paper addresses the chemical purification behavior of detonation nanodiamond soot in the case of using a dilute nitric acid under pressure. The optimal process is found to proceed at 230–240°C, 7–8 MPa, with HNO3 excess of 200–300% of stoichiometry.

The main theoretical aspects of detonation decomposition of powerful mixed explosives with a negative oxygen balance accompanied by the formation of nanodiamonds (ultrafine-dispersed diamonds, UDDs) are described. The basic UDD synthesis parameters are considered, and the expediency of using trotyl-hexogen alloys is shown. The conditions of diamond phase conservation in the detonation products are specified. Various versions of industrial detonation synthesis of UDDs are considered. The most efficient technology of chemical cleaning of UDDs (with nitric acid at high temperatures and pressures) for producing UDDs with the highest purity is described.

The cluster nature of detonation-synthesized ultradisperse diamonds (UDD) is considered. The industrial cycle employed for obtaining ultradisperse diamonds is described, with different variations of this process and the basic principles of design of the necessary equipment noted. Priority product areas and advantages of use of ultradisperse diamonds in metal-diamond electrochemical coatings and polymer-diamond composites are discussed in detail.

Oxidation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by aqueous nitric acid at high temperature and pressure gives 2,4,6-trinitrobenzoic acid (TNBA) and other valuable products, such as 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB). Optimization of the kinetics proved to be critical for the selective oxidation of the methyl group. High yield of a desired product can be obtained only under a narrow range of conditions. Thus, the best yield (70 to 75%) of TNBA was achieved at a 35 to 45% conversion of TNT (80% nitric acid, 194 C, 20 min), whereas the decarboxylation product (TNB) was the major component of the reaction mixture after a 50-min reaction. Subsequent separation of TNBA was achieved by selective extraction with aqueous bicarbonate. Practical technology development steps for a continuous mode of operation leading to the chief products are also discussed. This technology can use commercial raw trotyl and trotyl from discharged ammunition as the starting material. The latter could be of particular importance for the conversion program aimed at the utilization of ammunition supplies.