As mentioned above this paper describes

As mentioned above, this paper describes an experimental set-up in which a plasma reactor has been combined with a fluidized bed [57]. Although this combination is known in the literature, it uses relatively cold plasma which allows the processing of several tens up to one hundred grams of heat-sensitive materials, primarily energetic materials. The applications can obviously be extended to other heat-sensitive materials, like pharmaceuticals. The expected advantage of the plasma coating technique in combination with the fluidized bed is the formation of a thin and homogeneous coating layer around particles. It is expected that the coated materials will show different properties compared to conventional particles or physical mixtures of different particles. First trials with the coating of CuO particles with a polydimethyl siloxane containing layer indeed confirm a change from hydrophilic to hydrophobic properties of the powder as a result of the plasma treatment. Scanning He-ion microscopy (SHIM) and scanning diazoxide microscopy (SEM) were applied to characterize the samples. Especially SHIM showed the presence of very small, droplet-like deposits on the CuO particles, with nanoscale dimensions (10–20 nm). The CuO samples treated during a longer time show indications of a thicker deposited layer. X-ray microanalysis has confirmed the presence of Si atoms on the surface of the treated CuO samples. As a next step, their intention was to further extend the work to include other materials, e.g. aluminum particles and energetic materials like explosives (RDX, HMX) or oxidizers (AP), metal/metal oxides combinations (thermites). The coated particles would be characterized regarding the coating efficiency, coating layer thickness, compatibility, reactivity, thermal properties, etc. The final goal would be to apply the coated materials in either explosive, propellant or pyrotechnic compositions in order to assess their properties (performance, munition effects, enhanced blast, etc.) compared to conventional formulations. The development of new energetic materials with enhanced-blast properties requires better understanding of the factors such as particle type, size and particle/matrix distribution. The article by Abadjieva et al. concentrates on coating of particles which opens new horizons and possibilities in energetic materials engineering [60]. Functionalities as ingredient compatibility, increased burning rates, and accelerated or delayed ignition become possible upon applying suitable coatings. The development and production of a new class of shock-insensitive, blast-enhanced explosives based on modified/functionalized (energetic) materials require new technologies. The authors described a research program briefly. The program included, e.g., the development of coated materials like aluminum powder. Using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technology, test powder was coated with SiOx containing layers (with HMDSO as a precursor) and fluorinated layers (with C2F6 as a precursor). The results were presented and discussed in the article [60]. Lips et al. in their paper presented the development of an enhanced SIBEX (shock-insensitive blast-enhanced explosives) explosive formulation with optimized properties to suit a man-portable weapon system with anti-structure capability [61]. The development mentioned includes the down selection of four chemically and physically different SIBEX types. Also Lips et al. presented analysis assessment together with open-field testings. Enhanced-blast charges gain more and more attention especially in connection with hard target defeat applications. The IHE needs both a good blast performance and also a veritable resistivity against high shocks during the perforation of a target. The new and appropriate acronym “SIBEX” (Shock-Insensitive Blast-Enhanced Explosive) has been created for these kinds of high explosives. In the course of a research program to design compositions with enhanced blast output, a variety of charges have been fired in a detonation chamber [32]. The quasi-static pressure build-up was measured as the only criterion for performance and the primary shock wave has been disregarded. All the charges were loaded with a high portion of micron-sized metal particles (usually aluminum and/or boron). The pressure did not always build up until Lethal locus reached the equilibrium pressure, thus indicating that not all of the metal powder burned within the relevant time frame. By comparing simple composite charges (RDX/Metal/Binder) with shock-dispersed fuel (SDF) charges (comprising a center core made of a brisant explosive and a fuel-rich wrapping), it turned out that with SDF charges the pressure buildup was considerably faster. Some of the highly metalized charges reached a TNT equivalence lying between 1.5 and 1.7, on a performance scale relative to TNT and a quasi-static pressure developed far beyond that of the known explosives currently in service. In those tests, it could be shown that the supply of oxygen, i.e. the mixing of fuel with air, is the limiting factor in fast pressure build-up. For improvements of the performance further, the burning not only has to be enhanced particularly, but any means of accelerating the mixing are required as well.