He CL-20acronym of China Lake Compound no. 20 or China Lake number 20 compound is a high -power explosive originally developed in the China Lake Naval Arms StationUnited States, in the 80s. It is considered one of the most powerful conventional (non -nuclear) explosives that existand countries like the United States or China study the way of power use it safely as a possible fuel for missiles.
According to South China Morning Post, scientists in China claim to discover a new method to improve CL-20 performance that would allow it to be used as fuel for missiles. But the most surprising is what they use to achieve it: the traditional ones, in Chinese cuisine, Steamed rolls. These rolls, which are usually made with wheat and yeast flour, are cooked by steam instead of baking to obtain a more spongy texture.
The CL-20 can mix with other substances To increase your power, but this can also generate instability. For this reason, Chinese scientists had been looking for materials that operated as modifiers of the CL-20 and have found it in steamed rolls prepared in a place in the Universidad del Norte de China. These breads were baked at a temperature of 1,100 ° C. For two hours, turning them into coal. Subsequently, this Carbonized material It was mixed with the explosive.
How steamed rolls can improve CL-20
The teacher Cao Xiongof chemical engineering, explained that The carbon material obtained showed a good performance in thermal decomposition when mixed with the CL-20. They observed that the explosive was embedded In the pores of carbonized materialmaking it safer and less prone to accidental explosions. In addition, the pores acted as small independent containersfunctioning as mini reaction furnaces that improved the speed of combustion and made it more complete.
According to scientists, this advance can increase the scope of hypersonic missiles by 20 %in addition to improving CL-20 performance as an explosive. SCMP indicates that this finding has been published in November in the magazine reviewed by peers Chinese Journal of Ordnance Equipment Engineering.
United States and CL-20
USA It is also exploring the use of CL-20 to improve the scope of its missiles and replace the existing materials in its non-nuclear eyelets. According to Reuters, a study in 2023 estimated that Repontance a missile with CL-20 could extend its reach in approximately 20 %. Congress proposed this measure as part of its strategy to strengthen the presence of the United States in the Indo-Pacific corridor in the face of China’s threats.
Northrop Grummanone of the main CL-20 manufacturers in the US, has allocated funds to establish an office dedicated to energy materials. Among the possible candidate missiles for this program are the long -range anti -speed missile of Lockheed Martinthe air-superficie missiles of extended scope and the anti-tank missile Javelin of Lockheed and RTXamong others.