Ultralow-CNT-Reinforced Thermal and Mechanical Properties for Polymer-Bonded Explosives

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Improving thermal and mechanical properties of polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) is crucial for safety and reliability.
• Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer potential for property enhancement but face challenges in network formation at low concentrations.
• Developing cost-effective methods for incorporating fillers is essential for practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multi-level composite strategy for incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) at ultralow loadings.
• To investigate the enhancement of thermal and mechanical properties in PBXs using CNTs.
• To elucidate the reinforcement mechanisms in CNT-based energetic composites.

Main Methods:

• A multi-level composite strategy combining water suspension and slurry methods was employed.
• Hierarchical thermal/mechanical networks were constructed using only 0.5 wt % CNTs.
• Systematic studies involved binary (CNT/F2311) and ternary (CNT/F2311/melamine) composites, utilizing morphological characterization, thermal/mechanical testing, theoretical modeling, and COMSOL simulation.

Main Results:

• A 52.09% increase in thermal conductivity to 0.6993 W·m^-1·K^-1 was achieved at 0.5 wt % CNT loading.
• Brazilian splitting strength increased by 181.6% with the addition of 0.5 wt % CNTs.
• The study revealed reinforcement mechanisms through comprehensive analysis of composite structures and properties.

Conclusions:

• A facile and effective approach for designing high-performance energetic composites with ultralow functional fillers was established.
• The developed method enables significant improvements in thermal and mechanical properties of PBXs.
• This research provides a pathway for creating safer and more reliable energetic materials using minimal advanced fillers.