Department of Defense Awards $5.1 Million to Demonstrate and Establish Process to Recrystallize Nitroguanidine
November 25, 2024
The Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded a $5.1 million contract to SI2 Technologies, Inc. to demonstrate and establish a process to recrystallize nitroguanidine (NQ). NQ is a high-energy compound that is used in solid rocket propellants and explosives. The current process for producing NQ is inefficient and time-consuming, and it results in a product that is not of consistent quality.
The new process that will be developed under this contract is expected to be more efficient and cost-effective than the current process. It will also produce a product that is of higher quality and that is more consistent from batch to batch.
The contract was awarded through the Defense Production Act Title III program, which provides financial assistance to companies that are developing technologies that are critical to the national defense.
“This project will help to ensure that the United States has a reliable and affordable supply of NQ,” said Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks, Deputy Secretary of Defense. “This is a critical material for our national defense, and we are committed to investing in technologies that will improve our ability to produce it.”
The project will be carried out over a period of three years. During that time, SI2 Technologies will develop and demonstrate the new process at its facility in Williston, North Dakota. The company will also work with the DoD to establish a production line for the new process at a government-owned, contractor-operated facility.
“We are excited to partner with the DoD on this important project,” said Dr. Michael A. McDevitt, President and CEO of SI2 Technologies. “We believe that our new process has the potential to revolutionize the production of NQ. This could have a significant impact on the cost and availability of this critical material.”
NQ is a white, crystalline powder that is insoluble in water. It is a powerful explosive, and it is also used as a propellant in solid rockets. NQ is produced by the nitration of guanidine.
The current process for producing NQ is a batch process. It is time-consuming and inefficient, and it results in a product that is not of consistent quality. The new process that will be developed under this contract is a continuous process. It is expected to be more efficient and cost-effective than the current process, and it will produce a product that is of higher quality and that is more consistent from batch to batch.
The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
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