Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane

Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane, also called HNIW and CL-20, is a polycyclic nitroamine explosive with the formula C6H6N12O12. In the 1980s, CL-20 was developed by the China Lake facility, primarily to be used in propellants. It has a better oxidizer-to-fuel ratio than conventional HMX or RDX. It releases 20% more energy than traditional HMX-based propellants, and is widely superior to conventional high-energy propellants and explosives.

Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane
Names
IUPAC name
2,4,6,8,10,12-Hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.03,11.05,9]dodecane
Other names
  • CL-20
  • Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane
  • 2,4,6,8,10,12-Hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane
  • Octahydro-1,3,4,7,8,10-hexanitro-5,2,6-(iminomethenimino)-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine
  • HNIW
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
Abbreviations CL-20, HNIW
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.114.169
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C6H6N12O12/c19-13(20)7-1-2-8(14(21)22)5(7)6-9(15(23)24)3(11(1)17(27)28)4(10(6)16(25)26)12(2)18(29)30/h1-6H Y
    Key: NDYLCHGXSQOGMS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  • [O-][N+](=O)N1C2C3N(C4C(N3[N+]([O-])=O)N(C(C1N4[N+]([O-])=O)N2[N+]([O-])=O)[N+]([O-])=O)[N+]([O-])=O
Properties
C
6N
12H
6O
12
Molar mass 438.1850 g mol−1
Density 2.044 g cm−3
Explosive data
Detonation velocity 9,500 m/s
RE factor 1.9
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

While most development of CL-20 has been fielded by the Thiokol Corporation, the US Navy (through ONR) has also been interested in CL-20 for use in rocket propellants, such as for missiles, as it has lower observability characteristics such as less visible smoke.

CL-20 has not yet been fielded in any production weapons system, but is undergoing testing for stability, production capabilities, and other weapons characteristics.

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