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Reinforcing effect of trifluoromethyl/amino-modified neutral polymeric bonding agents on interfacial bonding of fluoropolymer/nitramine energetic composites-based high-energy polymer bonded explosives

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Abstract

The interfacial de-wetting problem of fluoropolymer/nitramine energetic composites such as F2313/RDX severely restricts their potentially extensive application as high-energy polymer bonded explosives (PBXs). The matched neutral polymeric bonding agents (NPBAs) can bridge the gap between the composite components and play a critical role in strengthening the composite interface to inhibit de-wetting. In this contribution, following the typical NBPA design strategy, two novel NPBAs with trifluoromethyl and amino pendants were prepared from methyl acrylate (MA), hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA) and acrylamide (AM) as raw materials, under the action of initiator AIBN, named NPBA-2 and NPBA-3, respectively. The structure, interfacial characteristics, and bonding properties of the synthesized NPBAs were investigated. The results showed that the additional functional groups reduced the surface tension for interface wetting and effectively enhanced the bonding effect of NPBAs on F2313/RDX according to the “like-dissolves-like” rule and the formation of hydrogen bonds. The bonding properties of both novel NPBAs out-performed the control NPBA-1 and provided at least 184% interfacial reinforcement for F2313/RDX. The NPBA-2 bonded F2313/RDX energetic composite exhibited the best mechanical properties with a maximum Brazilian strength of 6.88 ± 0.02 MPa and the corresponding modulus of 10.71 ± 0.02 GPa. We believe that these NPBAs will have great application potential in high-energy PBXs.

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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the research start-up fund from Zhengzhou University.The project also thanksthe Institute of Chemical Materials, China Academy of Engineering Physics for the support in Brazilian tests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, People’s Republic of China

    Meng Wang, Shaolong Li, Wenke Li, Yike Yang & Feng Liu

  2. Institute of Chemical Materials, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, 621900, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaodong Li

  3. Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Callum Stewart

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  1. Meng Wang
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  2. Xiaodong Li
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  3. Shaolong Li
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  4. Wenke Li
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  6. Yike Yang
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  7. Feng Liu
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Correspondence to Yike Yang or Feng Liu.

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Wang, M., Li, X., Li, S. et al. Reinforcing effect of trifluoromethyl/amino-modified neutral polymeric bonding agents on interfacial bonding of fluoropolymer/nitramine energetic composites-based high-energy polymer bonded explosives. Iran Polym J 32, 729–737 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-023-01162-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-023-01162-z

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