International Heat Flow Calorimetry Symposium – Energetic Materials and International Nitrocellulose Symposium 2025

Symposium / September 15, 2025 - September 19, 2025

International Heat Flow Calorimetry Symposium – Energetic Materials and International Nitrocellulose Symposium 2025

The 13th^th International Heat Flow Calorimetry Symposium – Energetic Materials and the 10^th International Nitrocellulose Symposium were held at Fraunhofer ICT from 15 to 19 September 2025. Over the five days, 120 participants from all over the world took the opportunity to follow 29 lectures on the following topics:

Nitrocellulose Symposium

Resources available for NC production
Processing of cellulose for nitration
Manufacturing of NC
Stabilizing NC
Formulation of propellants with NC
Behavior of NC-based materials

Heat Flow Calorimetry Symposium

Heat flow microcalorimetry (HFMC)
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
Accelerated rate calorimetry (ARC)
Reaction calorimetry (RC)
Reaction flow calorimetry (RFC)
Interpretation and modelling of reactions

An excursion in to Germanys famous Black Forst and an evening barbecue added experience and time for networking.

Moritz Heil, who had organized the conference, said afterwards: »This symposium was a great opportunity to discuss scientific ideas, share knwoledge and deepen the bonds between research, industry and armed forces from all over the world.«

The next NC-HFC-Conference is supposed to be held in the USA, presumably on the east coast, in the summer of 2027.

Event details

Location

Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology
Josef-von-Fraunhofer-Straße 7, 76327 Pfinztal

Date

September 15, 2025 - September 19, 2025

Language

English

Schedule

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Monday, Sep 15

9.00	Introduction and welcome
9.30	RYAM-100 years of Dissolving Pulp Miki Thomaston RYAM, US	Manufacturing (Chair: Moritz Heil, Fraunhofer ICT)
10.00	A Study of the Kinetics of Viscosity Reduction During the Stabilization of Military Grade Nitrocellulose F. Sullivan, P. Abbate, N. Ioannidis, R. Ivko US Army DEVCOM, US C. Gogos, Z. Ophir, S. Patel, J. Wu, X. Li New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, US	Manufacturing (Chair: Moritz Heil, Fraunhofer ICT)
10.30	Coffee Break
11.00	MACS Modular Artillery Charge System using NC wood paste based comparison between NC (wood pulp vs. cotton linter) S. Cuvelier, C. Chollet Eurenco, Bergerac, F	Cellulose Sources for NC (Chair: Moritz Heil, Fraunhofer ICT)
11.30	Towards a bespoke feedstock in the manufacture of nitrocellulose: Cultural variation in the biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose B. Nicol, I. Wilson, J.-F. Pons
12.00	Cellulose Alternate Source Evaluation K. Yang, K. Klein, F. Sullivan US Army DEVCOM Armamenty Center, Picatinny Arsenal, US
12.30	Lunch
14.00	Controlling the behaviour and stability of ultra-fine NC powder under stress G. Galland, B. Lallemand, F. Schnell, B. Bonnet, M. Comet ISL, Saint Louis, F	Processing & Propellants (Chair: Kristy Klein, US Army DEVCOM Armament Center)
14.30	Characterization of an Alternative Cutting Process for Effects on Downstream Nitrocellulose Manufacture L. Goetz, S. Hetzel, L. Cook BAE Systems, Radford, US
15.00	Performance Evaluation of Single-Base Propellant with Varying Nitrocellulose Composition E. Ardic, Ö. H. Yigit, F. Yildirim MKE A.Ş., Ankara, TR
15.30	Coffee

Tuesday, Sep 16

9.00	POSTER SESSION
10.30	Coffee Break
11.00	Energetic Material Qualification (EMQ) Plan for Propellants Supplied to Australian Defence Force (ADF) K. Voung Department Defence, Campbell, AUS	Characterization (Chair: Ian Levac, General Dynamics – Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada)
11.30	Stability testing of Nitrocellulose with Chemiluminescence M. Müller, S. Brunner, M. Ramin Nitrochemie Wimmis AG, Wimmis, CH
12.00	Studies of the Bergman Junk Test using the NOx Chemiluminescence Technique I. G. Wallace, N. Mai, L. Durazzo Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Cranfield, UK
12.30	Lunch
14.00	Nitrocellulose-Coated AlMg@NrGO/nFe2O3 Nanothermite for Enhanced Thermal Properties of Ammonium Perchlorate M. K. Boulkadid, F. Gahfif, S. Touidjine, M. E. A. Facih, S. Belkhiri Ecole Militaire Polytechniqe, Algiers, Algeria	Formulation and Safety (Chair: Alain Dejeaifve, Eurenco)
14.30	Cellulose, nitrocellulose and explosiveness – A fire safety perspective F. Paquet, M. Paquet General Dynamics - Ordnance and tactical systems Canada, Valleyfield, CA
15.00	Coffee

19.00	Dinner Committee NC + HFC

Wednesday, Sep 17

9.00	Using heat flow calorimetry for in-process compatibility testing L. Goetz, N. Zurn, S. Ventrapragada BAE Systems, Radford, US	Calorimetry & Nitrocellulose I (Chair: Michael Ramin, Nitrochemie Wimmins)
9.30	Nitrocellulose thermal decomposition under various calorimetric conditions with mechanistic considerations K. Katoh, E. Higashi, Daito Kinjo Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, JP Y. Izato, K. Okada Yokoham National University, Yokohama, JP
10.00	Combined Effects of Temperature and Humidity on the Decomposition Kinetics of Nitrocellulose-Based Propellants: From Milligram to Kilogram Scale B. Roduit AKTS SA, Sierre, CH P. Folly, A. Sarbach armasuisse, Thun, CH R. Baltensperger University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, Fribourg, CH
10.30	Coffee Break
11.00	Behaviour of a single base Nitro Cellulose propellant containing Ethyl Centralite and Tributyl Citrate analyzed with HFC and UHPLC E. L. M. LaHaye TNO, The Hague, NL	Calorimetry & Nitrocellulose II (Chair: Paul Deacon, AWE)
11.30	Modelling Thermal Initiation of Small Arms Nitrocellulose Propellant W. Sjösten, R. Wedberg FOI, Stockholm, SE
12.00	US Military Cellulose Specification Updates K. Klein US Army DEVCOM Armamenty Center, Picatinny Arsenal, US
12.30	Lunch
14.00-17.30	Excursion to Black forest with wine tasting and regional specialties

Thursday, Sep 18

9.00	10th Nitrocellulose Symposium, 13th Heat Flow Calorimetry Symposium on Energetic Materials - From UK Workshops to major international events P. Deacon, A. MacDonald AWE PLC, Aldermaston, Reading, UK	Calorimetry - Kinetics (Chair: Ellen LaHaye, TNO)
9.30	Calorimetry-informed kinetic modeling of nitroguanidine synthesis pathways for pathway down-selection and reaction condition optimization F. Berisha, R. Duddu Leidos support contractor to U.S. DEVCOM Armaments Center, US B. Diallo, K. Eagan, E. Gauthier, P. Greer, A. Lynch, A. Paraskos US Army DEVCOM Armamenty Center, Picatinny Arsenal, US
10.00	Characterizing Physical and Chemical Polymer Properties with Heat Flow Calorimetry C. Cockreham, E. Glascoe, J. Rosener, S. Hawks Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, US
10.30	Coffee Break
11.00	Leveraging controlled-atmosphere preparation methods with heat flow calorimetry to study environmental factors in explosive compatibilty J. Rosener, S. Hawks, C. Cockreham, E. Glascoe Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, US	Heat Flow Calorimetry - Techniques (Chair: Manfred Bohn, Fraunhofer ICT)
11.30	Ruminating on baselines in Heat Flow Calorimetry E. Glascoe, C. Cockreham, S. Hawks, J. Rosener Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, US
12.00	tba P. Vikegard Waters Sverige AB, Solna, SE
12.30	Lunch
14.00-16.00	Guided Tours Fraunhofer ICT
16.00-20.00	Barbecue

Friday, Sep 19

9.30	The suitability for a Differential Scanning Calorimeter fitted with a microscope for analysis of energetics C. Palmer DSTL, Fareham, UK	Heat Flow Calorimetry - DSC (Chair: Alan MacDonald, AWE)
10.30	Development of an improved compatibility assessment for high explosives using Differential Scanning Calorimetry C. Shailes, A. MacDonald AWE PLC, Aldermaston, Reading, UK
10.30	Coffee Break
11.00	Simulation of heat flow curves from microcalorimetry – what are the prerequisits? Manfred A. Bohn Fraunhofer ICT, Pfinztal, Germany	Prediction (Chair: Alan MacDonald, AWE)
11.30	Prediction of enthalpy of formation for simulation of heat flow curves Moritz Heil, J. Langer, M. Janotta Fraunhofer ICT
12.00	Closing remarks and end of symposium
12.30-14.00	Lunch

List of Posters

Influence of test consumables from different manufacturers on friction sensitivity results
E. Higashi, A. Imahayashi, S. Moriyama, K. Katoh
Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, JP
K. Okada
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technolog (AIST), Tsukuba, JP
S. Tanaka
Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, JP
NC
Case study of the 2022 Bergerac accident: origins, decomposition mechanisms and domino’s effects
F. Pessina, N. Apchin, L, Heudier, B. Le-Roux
INERIS, Verneuil-en-Halatte, F
NC
Influence of side chains on stabilizer candidates for NENA-propellants
S. Braun, A. Dufay, F. Ciszek, K.-T. Han
Institute Saint-Louis, Saint-Louis, F
NC
Hazard evaluation of nitrocellulose/perchlorate mixtures
A. Imahayashi, E. Higashi, S., K. Katoh
Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, JP
K. Okada
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technolog (AIST), Tsukuba, JP
NC
The Development of a Quasi- Isothermal Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry Method for the Assessment of Chemical Compatibility of High Explosives
C.L. Shailes
AWE PLC, Aldermaston, Reading, UK
HFC
From Explosive to Formulation: Exploring the Changes in Thermal Stability
A. McMorrin
AWE PLC, Aldermaston, Reading, UK
HFC
Thermal Decomposition of Nitrocellulose Membranes and Its Induced Decline in Lateral Flow Immunoassay Performance
M. Makino, E. Higashi, K. Katoh
Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, JP
T. Yamaguchi
Denka Co. Ltd, Niigata, JP
T. Nakanashi
Toyo Roshi Kaisha Ltd, Tokyo, JP
NC
Stability test and spontaneous ignition of NC and NC-based explosives
K. Okada
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technolog (AIST), Tsukuba, JP
M. Akiyoshi, E. Higashi, S., K. Katoh
Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, JP
NC
On the Accuracy of Isothermal Calorimeters
P. Vikegard
Waters Sverige AB, Solna, SE
HFC
Handling and Analyzing Nitrocellulose Samples During Early Production Stages: A Practical Approach
J. M. Fernández, V. León
Rheinmetall Expal, Javalí Viejo, ES
NC
Raman Spectroscopy Measurements of Cellulose and Nitrocellulose
V. León, J. M. Fernández
Rheinmetall Expal, Javalí Viejo, ES
NC
Stability of a nitroglycerine-free propellant containing a nitramine-based plasticiser
A. Dejeaifve, R. Dobson
Eurenco, Clermont, B
NC
Accidental deflagration overpressure resistance in nitrocellulose applications
F. Paquet, M. Paquet
General Dynamics – Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada, Valleyfield, CAN
NC
Analysis Of Nitrocellulose Sample Produced From Hammer Milled Cellulose
F. Sullivan, T. Lam, H. Grau, K. Klein
US Army DEVCOM Armaments Center, Picatinny Arsenal, US
NC

Symposium

Symposium / September 15, 2025 - September 19, 2025