IMX-101 is a high-performance
insensitive high explosive composite mixture developed by
BAE Systems and the
United States Army to replace
TNT in artillery shells.[1][2][3][4] IMX stands for "Insensitive
Munitions eXplosives", which refers to the purpose of IMX-101: to provide explosive force equivalent to TNT without
its sensitivity to
shocks such as gunfire, explosions from
improvised explosive devices, fire, and shrapnel. For example, it is believed that a training incident in Nevada which killed seven Marines would not have occurred with the new explosive. On March 23, 2013, the
United States Army ordered $780 million worth of the explosive, with a production of millions of pounds annually, to be produced by BAE at
Holston Army Ammunition Plant in
Tennessee.[5] The new explosive will cost $8 per pound, compared to $6 per pound for TNT.[6] As of 2023, IMX-101 filled shells are being used in the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7]
Time Magazine called IMX-101 one of the "50 best inventions of 2010".[6]
Composition
IMX-101 is composed of
2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN),
nitrotriazolone (NTO), and
nitroguanidine (NQ).[5] The nominal composition is 43.5 wt% DNAN, 36.8 wt% NQ, and 19.7 wt% NTO.[8][9][10] Trace amounts of N-methyl-p-nitroaniline (MNA) are included in some formulations to aid in processing.[11][12] A formulation containing about 24 wt%
aluminum and 76 wt% IMX-101 is called ALIMX-101 and is currently being investigated as an insensitive replacement for H6 and PBXN-109 in Mk82 style bombs.[13]
A Family of Insensitive Melt Cast Explosive Formulations: Insensitive Melt Cast Explosives manufactured at Holston Army Ammunition Plant[9]
Formulation
Key Ingredients
Replaces
Purpose
Qualification Status (2012)
IMX-101
DNAN + NTO + NQ
TNT
Artillery and other large caliber munitions
Material qualified; Type qualified for 155mm
M795, on-going for 155mm M1122 and 105mm projectiles
^Cuddy, Michael F.; Poda, Aimee R.; Chappell, Mark A. (2014). "Estimations of Vapor Pressures by Thermogravimetric Analysis of the Insensitive Munitions IMX-101, IMX-104, and Individual Components". Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics. 39 (2): 236–242.
doi:
10.1002/prep.201300069.
^Rao, Balaji; Wang, Wei; Cai, Qingsong; Anderson, Todd; Gu, Baohua (2013). "Photochemical transformation of the insensitive munitions compound 2,4-dinitroanisole". Science of the Total Environment. 443: 692–699.
Bibcode:
2013ScTEn.443..692R.
doi:
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.11.033.
PMID23228715.