The Explosive Hazards of Icosahedral Carboranes and Dodecaborate with Common Oxidizers and Salts
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Carboranes find use in a wide variety of applications ranging from specialty catalysts to medicinal uses. Certain functionalized carboranes are described as explosive materials, although their nonfunctionalized precursors are regarded as inherently stable and not explosive. Herein, we report new findings on the sensitization of nonfunctionalized 12-vertex ortho -, meta -, and para -carboranes as well as dodecaborate in physical mixtures with several common inorganic salts. These mixtures were evaluated for explosive properties with drop hammer impact tests, friction tests, and differential scanning calorimetry thermal gravimetric analysis (DSC-TGA). Results indicate explosive sensitization to mechanical stimuli for the nonfunctionalized carboranes tested with a wide variety of inorganic salts, especially oxidizers. Sensitization of these compounds has not previously been reported, and raising awareness to the broader scientific community on this matter is warranted, especially as several of the mixtures evaluated are more sensitive to mechanical stimuli than primary explosives such as lead azide or pentaerythritol tetranitrate.
Source: Inorganic Chemistry
Authors: Nicholas F. Scherschel, Davin G. Piercey, Jack V. Davis
Language: English
Topic: Boron Compounds in Chemistry
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Award: G572371474
OpenAlex ID: W7166681433