Ether-Based Reactive Plasticizer for PBX Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energetic materials, such as plastic bonded explosives (PBXs), face challenges in achieving high performance and insensitivity while preventing the migration of energetic plasticizers, which leads to increased sensitivity and reduced storage stability due to low heat stability and non-compatibility with explosives.
Innovation Solution
A high-energy alkyne-based reactive plasticizer is introduced that binds to a polymer binder through a click reaction during the curing process, reducing plasticizer migration and enhancing energy density and processability by forming an ether-based compound with azide and acetylene groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If an energetic plasticizer is applied to increase energy density, then the energy level of PBX is improved, but the plasticizer migrates from PBX over time causing increased sensitivity and reduced storage stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the plasticizer and binder into a single integrated compound (energetic binder) where the plasticizer functional groups are chemically bonded to the polymer backbone. This merging eliminates the phase separation and migration issues between separate plasticizer and binder components while maintaining energy density and storage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite energetic binder that integrates multiple functions (binding, plasticizing, and energizing) into a single material system. The binder contains both polymer chains and energetic functional groups (nitro, nitrate, nitramine, azido, or difluoroamino groups) within the same molecular structure, achieving synergistic performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional polyurethane binder is used to achieve insensitivity, then safety is improved, but the energy density of PBX is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the binder by incorporating energetic functional groups (nitro, nitrate, nitramine, azido, or difluoroamino groups) into the polymer structure. This changes the energy content parameter while maintaining the polyurethane backbone structure that provides insensitivity, achieving both high energy density and safety.
3Use of energy by moving object
If energetic functional groups are introduced to increase energy level, then energy density is improved, but heat stability and processability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces energetic functional groups at specific local positions within the polymer structure rather than throughout the entire molecule. The ether-based backbone provides a stable, processable framework while localized energetic groups (nitro, nitrate, nitramine, azido, or difluoroamino) provide high energy content, achieving balance between energy level and processability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The reactive plasticizer effectively prevents plasticizer migration, improving the long-term stability and energy density of PBXs, while maintaining high performance and safety by forming a covalent bond with the binder, thus addressing the issues of sensitivity and stability.
Implementation Method 1
A high-energy alkyne-based reactive plasticizer is introduced that binds to a polymer binder through a click reaction during the curing process
Implementation Method 2
forming an ether-based compound with azide and acetylene groups
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an energetic reactive plasticizer for a plastic bonded explosive (PBX), and specifically an energetic reactive plasticizer for PBX which has high performance and insensitiveness without a plasticizer leak by being bonded with a polymer binder for a plastic bonded explosive.