A flow reactor for the synthesis of energetic materials, comprising; a first input flow
reagent, and a second input flow
reagent, a flow reactor, comprising at least
two temperature zones within the flow reactor. In another aspect, this flow reactor is used in a method for the flow synthesis manufacture of energetic materials. Preferred energetic materials include poly nitrated moieties selected from nitramines, heterocycles, aromatics, aromatic heterocycles, or aliphatic hydrocarbons. In yet another aspect, a method for the flow synthesis manufacture of RDX (hexogen), comprising the steps of (i) preparing input flow
reagent A, comprising hexamine pre-dissolved in water or glacial
acetic acid, (ii) preparing input flow reagent B comprising greater than 95% concentration
nitric acid, (iii) causing the input flow reagents A and B to enter the
mixing zone at a flow rate, so as to cause a total
nitric acid concentration of greater than 90%, in said flow reactor, (iv) cooling the
mixing zone to less than 15°C, (v) causing the
mixed flow to pass through into the
reaction zone, heating the reaction to greater than 25°C (vi) optionally
quenching the output flow from the
reaction zone, to cause
precipitation of RDX (cyclonite).