FOX-7

FOX-7 or 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene is an insensitive high power explosive compound. It was first synthesized in 1998 by the FOA Defence Research Establishment (Sweden). ^[1]

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FOX-7 is similar to the insensitive chemical compound TATB, which is a benzene ring compound with three amino and three nitro groups. FOX-7 has a linear two-carbon backbone rather than a benzene ring, but the amino and nitro groups have similar effects in both cases according to published reports on sensitivity and chemical decay processes of FOX-7. FOX-7 is today produced by Eureco Bofors AB in Sweden.

Its explosive properties appear extremely favorable; in addition to its insensitive properties, the detonation velocity of mixtures of 80% FOX-7 plus binders are as high as Composition B, and nearly pure FOX-7 based plastic bonded explosives are slightly superior to RDX. ^[2] FOX-7 has been calculated to have a detonation velocity of 8,870 m/s.^[1]

Due to its small-scale production, the cost of FOX-7 is relatively high. However, the production is based an commercial starting material and the synthesis is uncomplicated. The price is therefore predicted to fall as production scale increases. There is no current full scale use of FOX-7, but it is being tested at several military research centers. The need for less sensitive munition is the most important driver for testing FOX-7.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Computational Studies of FOX-7, a New Insensitive Explosive, Dorsett, 2000, accessed Aug 25, 2005
2. ^ DETONATION AND SENSITIVITY PROPERTIES OF FOX-7 AND FORMULATIONS CONTAINING FOX-7, Karlsson et al, 2002, accessed Aug 25, 2005