Effect of polymer binders on safety and detonation properties of ε-CL-20-based pressed-polymer-bonded explosives

This work tried to investigate the influence of several representative polymers on safety, processing, mechanical and detonation properties of epsilon-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (epsilon-CL-20) based pressed polymer bonded explosives (PBXs), and then find the relationship between them. Thus epsilon-CL-20 based pressed PBXs coated by six binders respectively were prepared, including cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), F2311, F2641, glycidylazide polymer (GAP), Estane 5703 and Hytemp 4454. Then the surface topography, polymorph stability, impact sensitivity, charge density, detonation velocity and tensile strength of these PBXs were characterized. The results showed that the structures and properties of polymer binders such as function group, deformation property, density and energetic character affected the performance of CL-20 based PBXs greatly. CL-20 based PBXs coated by Estane 5703 and Hytemp 4454 respectively displayed good safety, processing and mechanical properties, but these two polymers markedly decreased the detonation property. CL-20 based PBXs coated by F2311 and F2641 respectively showed high detonation property, but their safety and mechanical properties were poor. GAP was proved to be the optimum binder, which made epsilon-CL-20 based PBXs display excellent safety, processing, mechanical and detonation properties. Moreover, this study may provide a useful guidance for the formulation design of epsilon-CL-20 based pressed PBXs.