LLNL’s Energetic Materials Center (EMC) is home to many of our nation’s experts in non-nuclear, high-explosive materials that store and release large amounts of chemical energy.
EMC researchers support LLNL’s national security mission and the nuclear security enterprise by providing technical insight and direction regarding energetic materials, including high explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics.
Our History
Since LLNL’s inception in 1952, Laboratory researchers have been among the nation’s leaders in understanding, synthesizing, formulating, testing, and assessing energetic materials that play an integral role our national security mission. The EMC was established in 1991 to serve as a focal point for this expanding research space. It was launched at the end of the Cold War, a time when the anticipated transition away from nuclear testing required new types of research aimed at maintaining our nuclear deterrent capabilities. Over the decades, the Center has expanded its focus to include other types of research, including conventional munitions and homeland security.
Key Accomplishments
- Supported LLNL’s Life Extension Programs—which focus on ensuring that the U.S. nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure, and effective—by developing new manufacturing approaches for insensitive high explosives.
- Developed LX-21, the first new explosive to be enter the nuclear stockpile without full-scale underground testing. LX-21 is based on the LLM-105 explosive molecule, invented by LLNL scientists.
- Developed new computational models to predict the behavior of energetic materials, including the Cheetah detonation code, which enables scientists to model and predict the complexities of high explosives at a fundamental physics and chemistry level.
- Designed and implemented the first-ever explosives experiments at three U.S. laser facilities, including LLNL’s National Ignition Facility.
- Developed the High Explosives Laser Imaging Optical System, which uses ultrafast imaging technology to capture high-speed images of detonators and initiators.
- Invented new types of detonators that prevent accidental or unintended detonation of a nuclear warhead.
- Identified new types of explosive threats by using advanced x-ray, dual-energy, and computed tomography processing—supporting the needs of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its Transportation Security Administration.
- Pioneered the use of an advanced manufacturing technique known as direct ink writing for complex, multi-material, explosive components.
- Developed handheld explosive detection systems, including a patented, pocket-sized kit that uses chemical reactions to quickly detect explosives.
News
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