TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Method of direct polymerization and crosslinking of energetic materials to improve mechanical properties and performance
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- IL-13814
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 325920 Explosives Manufacturing
- Place of performance
- Livermore, California, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operating under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, has published a Special Notice offering collaboration opportunities for the development and commercialization of a novel method for direct polymerization and crosslinking of energetic materials. The technology addresses a significant challenge in high explosive manufacturing by eliminating the need for non-energetic polymer binders or plasticizers that traditionally reduce explosive performance by displacing active materials. LLNL researchers have developed an innovative approach to covalently couple nitroaromatic and nitramine explosive molecules, enabling the creation of mechanically stable high explosive compositions without performance-reducing additives. The method can be applied to create energetic binder phases, improve mechanical properties through co-reaction with polymeric binders, or serve as surface modifying agents to enhance particle interactions. This advancement represents a breakthrough in explosives manufacturing within the NAICS 325920 category.
The primary objective of this Special Notice is to identify potential collaborators interested in further developing and commercializing LLNL's proprietary energetic materials technology for improved mechanical properties and performance. Interested parties must respond by September 29, 2025, following the posting date of August 29, 2025. The opportunity is structured as a collaboration rather than a traditional contract award, suggesting that participants will work jointly with LLNL to advance the technology toward commercial applications. No specific set-aside designation applies to this opportunity, indicating it is open to all qualified contractors regardless of business size or socioeconomic status. The initiative focuses on creating a new class of polymer binder-free high explosive compositions that offer superior properties compared to current state-of-the-art formulations, potentially revolutionizing the explosives manufacturing industry.
Notice text
Opportunity:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its Method of direct polymerization and crosslinking of energetic materials to improve mechanical properties and performance.
Background:
High explosive (HE) compositions typically require compounding with a non-energetic polymer 'binder' phase or a non-energetic plasticizer, which enables processing and consolidating the material into a dense form that maintains a defined geometric shape. The drawback of introducing non-energetic polymeric binders or plasticizer phases is that they displace the energetic material, which affects performance. There is a need for an alternative method to manufacture high explosive compounds without diluting the HE by adding passive binder or plasticizers.
Description:
LLNL researchers have developed a method to of crosslinking, polymerizing or otherwise covalently coupling a subset of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosive molecules and compositions. Energetic materials manufactured using the novel method can be used ‘neat’ or as an energetic binder phase for another unmodified energetic compound. The approach may also be employed to co-react an energetic with a polymeric binder to improve mechanical properties and consolidation. The process may be used as a HE surface modifying (coupling) agent to improve the strength of interaction between HE particles and/or between HE particles and existing binder that is present. LLNL’s unique approach enables a new class of polymer binder free HE compositions to be formulated that have improved properties over the current state of the art compositions.
Advantages/Benefits:
- Method allows for mechanical stabilization and improvement of high-explosive compositions
- Method could form energetic binders that can be incorporated into HE compositions instead of passive polymeric binders currently used, which do not contribute to energetic output
Potential Applications:
- DOD munitions applications for improved performance
- Mining, oil & gas industries
Development Status:
Current stage of technology development: TRL ☐ 0-2 ☒ 3-5 ☐ 5-9
LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.
LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information.
Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.
Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Method of direct polymerization and crosslinking of energetic materials to improve mechanical properties and performance should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:
- Company Name and address.
- The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
- A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.
Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Method of direct polymerization and crosslinking of energetic materials to improve mechanical properties and performance.
The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.
Written responses should be directed to:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Innovation and Partnerships Office
P.O. Box 808, L-779
Livermore, CA 94551-0808
Attention: IL-13814
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