Abstract: A method of forming ?-alane. The method includes reacting aluminum trichloride and an alkali metal hydride to form an alane-ether complex solution. An aqueous diethyl ether solution is optionally added to the alane-ether complex solution to form a partially hydrolyzed ether/alane-ether complex solution. A solution of a first crystallization additive is added to the alane-ether complex solution or to the aqueous ether/alane-ether complex solution to form a crystallization solution. The first crystallization additive is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polybutadiene, polystyrene-co-polybutadiene, polyisoprene, poly-alpha-methylstyrene, polystyrene-co-polyindene, poly-alpha-pinene, and mixtures thereof. Optionally, a second crystallization additive is added to the crystallization solution.

Abstract: A melt-cast explosive which shares comparable explosive properties to those of COMP B explosives and is melt-pourable and castable under conditions comparable to those of COMP B explosives, but experiences less impact, shock, and thermal sensitivity and avoids the issues of toxicity associated with COMP B. A fundamental and well-accepted component of COMP B, i.e., trinitrotoluene (TNT), is replaced with one or more mononitro-substituted or dinitro-substituted melt-cast binders, such as dinitroanisole, which can be melt-cast without presenting the toxicity drawbacks experienced with the use of TNT. The melt-cast binder can also be combined with a processing aid selected from the group consisting of alkylnitroanilines and arylnitroanilines. Preferably, the composition also includes coarse oxidizer particles and an energetic filler in fine particulate form.

Abstract: A method of forming alpha-alane. The method includes reacting aluminum trichloride and an alkali metal hydride to form an alane-ether complex solution. An aqueous ether solution is optionally added to the alane-ether complex solution to form a partially hydrolyzed ether/alane-ether complex solution. A solution of a crystallization additive is added to the alane-ether complex solution or to the aqueous ether/alane-ether complex solution to form a crystallization solution. The crystallization additive is selected from the group consisting of squalene, cyclododecatriene, norbomylene, norbomadiene, a phenyl terminated polybutadiene, 2,4-dimethyl anisole, 3,5-dimethyl anisole, 2,6-dimethyl anisole, polydimethyl siloxane, and mixtures thereof. Ether is removed from the crystallization solution to crystallize the alpha-alane.