Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Biofunctionalization of Magnetic Nanomaterials

Biofunctionalization of Magnetic Nanomaterials

Published on: July 16, 2020

Coating Methods for Surface Modification of Ammonium Nitrate: A Mini-Review

Baha I Elzaki^1,2, Yue Jun Zhang³

¹School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu, China. bhaeldeen8888@yahoo.com.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

|August 5, 2017

Summary

Surface modification of ammonium nitrate (AN) using coating methods is crucial for reducing its hygroscopicity. Further research is needed to enhance anti-hygroscopic properties and understand coating mechanisms for improved ammonium salt performance.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Chemical Engineering
Propellant Technology

Background:

Ammonium nitrate (AN) is a key propellant oxidizer, but its use is limited by significant hygroscopicity.
Hygroscopicity, the tendency to absorb moisture from the air, negatively impacts AN's stability and performance.
Effective surface modification is essential to overcome AN's moisture absorption issues.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and consolidate information on surface modification techniques for reducing ammonium nitrate's hygroscopicity.
To summarize recent advancements and challenges in physical, chemical, and encapsulation coating methods for AN.
To provide a comprehensive overview of coating materials, process conditions, and testing methodologies.

Main Methods:

Literature review consolidating existing research on AN surface modification.
Analysis of physical coating methods for AN surface treatment.
Evaluation of chemical modification and encapsulation techniques applied to AN.
Discussion of various coating materials and their efficacy in reducing hygroscopicity.

Main Results:

Coating methods, including physical, chemical, and encapsulation, show potential for reducing AN's hygroscopicity.
Various coating materials and process conditions influence the effectiveness of moisture reduction.
Existing research highlights advantages and disadvantages for each coating approach.
Significant gaps remain in understanding the mechanisms of surface modification and developing robust anti-hygroscopic treatments.

Conclusions:

Further investigation into the mechanisms of AN surface modification is urgently required.
Development of advanced coating strategies is necessary to significantly reduce ammonium nitrate's hygroscopicity.
This review provides valuable insights for researchers focused on improving ammonium salts' anti-hygroscopic properties.

Keywords:

ammonium nitrate chemical coating encapsulation coating hygroscopicity modification surface physical coating

More Related Videos

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

Chemical Precipitation Method for the Synthesis of Nb2O5 Modified Bulk Nickel Catalysts with High Specific Surface Area

Chemical Precipitation Method for the Synthesis of Nb2O5 Modified Bulk Nickel Catalysts with High Specific Surface Area

Published on: February 19, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Preparation of Amines: Alkylation of Ammonia and Amines

Preparation of Amines: Alkylation of Ammonia and Amines

Alkylation is one of the methods used to prepare amines. Direct alkylation of ammonia or a primary amine with an alkyl halide gives polyalkylated amines along with a quaternary ammonium salt through successive SN2 reactions. This process of making the quaternary salt through the direct alkylation method is called exhaustive alkylation.
Each alkylation step makes the nitrogen center more nucleophilic, which triggers successive alkylations until a quaternary ammonium salt is formed. Considering...

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO2

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO₂

Secondary amines react with nitrous acid to form N-nitrosamines, as depicted in Figure 1. Nitrous acid, a weak and unstable acid, is formed in situ from an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite and strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, in cold conditions. In the presence of an acid, the nitrous acid gets protonated. The subsequent loss of water results in the formation of the electrophile known as nitrosonium ion.

1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview

1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO₂ Overview

Nitrous acid and nitric acids are two types of acids containing nitrogen, among which nitrous acid is weaker than nitric acid. Nitrous acid with a pKa value of 3.37 ionizes in water to give a nitrite ion and the hydronium ion.
The nitrous acid is unstable. Hence, it is formed in situ from a solution of sodium nitrite and cold aqueous acids such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. In an acidic solution, the –OH group of nitrous acid undergoes protonation to give oxonium ion, followed by...

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Oximes and Nitro Compounds

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Oximes and Nitro Compounds

Oximes can be reduced to primary amines using catalytic hydrogenation, hydride reduction, or sodium metal reduction. The reduction of aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds to primary amines takes place by either catalytic hydrogenation or by using active metals like Fe, Zn, and Sn in the presence of an acid.
Though catalytic hydrogenation can reduce nitrobenzenes, the reduction is nonselective in the presence of other functional groups. For instance, if nitrobenzene contains an aldehyde group,...

Preparation of Amines: Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones

Preparation of Amines: Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones

Carbonyl compounds and primary amines undergo reductive amination first to produce imines, followed by secondary amines in the same reaction mixture, using selective reducing agents like sodium cyanoborohydride or sodium triacetoxyborohydride. Reductive amination produces different degrees of substitution of amines depending on the starting amine substrate.

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Amides and Nitriles

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Amides and Nitriles

Nitriles can be reduced to primary amines using reducing agents like lithium aluminum hydride or catalytic hydrogenation. The reduction introduces an amino group with an extra carbon in the skeleton. Nitriles are formed from the reaction between alkyl halides and sodium cyanide through the SN2 mechanism. Primary alkyl halides are the preferred substrates to prepare nitriles.
Amides can be reduced to primary, secondary, and tertiary amines using catalytic hydrogenation, active metals like Fe,...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Correction: Wu et al. Nano-Silicon@Exfoliated Graphite@Pyrolytic Polyaniline Composite of a High-Performance Anode for Lithium Storage. Materials 2023, 16, 1584.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

RETRACTED: Mijiritsky et al. Porcine Bone Scaffolds Adsorb Growth Factors Secreted by MSCs and Improve Bone Tissue Repair. Materials 2017, 10, 1054.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Correction: Ma et al. 3D Printing of Conductive Tissue Engineering Scaffolds Containing Polypyrrole Nanoparticles with Different Morphologies and Concentrations. Materials 2019, 12, 2491.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Correction: Rothen-Chaja et al. The Effect of In Situ Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of H13 Tool Steel Specimens Produced by Laser-Engineered Net Shaping (LENS®). Materials 2025, 18, 5164.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Correction: Li et al. Synthesis of Bimetallic FeCu-MOF and Its Performance as Catalyst of Peroxymonosulfate for Degradation of Methylene Blue. Materials 2022, 15, 7252.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Cross-Scale Correlation Analysis Between Forming Quality and Microstructural Response During SPIF of the Al 1060 Based on PEEQ-Based SSD Density Inference and EBSD Characterization.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

See all related articles