Polymer-Bonded Explosives

Field, J.E., Parry, M.A., Palmer, S.J.P., and Huntley, J.M. (1989) Deformation and explosive properties of HMX powders and polymer bonded explosives. 9th Symp. (Inti.) on Detonation, Portland, Oregano, September, Paper 86. 

Polymer bonded explosives (PBXs) were developed to reduce the sensitivity of the newly-synthesized explosive crystals by embedding the explosive crystals in a rubber-like polymeric matrix. The first PBX composition was developed at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratories in USA in 1952. The composition consisted of RDX crystals embedded in plasticized polystyrene. Since 1952, Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, the US Navy and many other organizations have developed a series of PBX formulations, some of which are listed in Table 1.2. 

Polymeric materials can be added to secondary explosives to produce polymer bonded explosives (PBXs). The polymers are generally used in... 

RDX has a melting point close to its ignition temperature and therefore cannot be safely melted. However, it is often used in conjunction with TNT for casting techniques. RDX is very sensitive and cannot be processed by pressing. In order to reduce its sensitivity a binder such as a wax or polymer is used, these binders are known as phlegmatizing binders. RDX is the main explosive component of British explosive compositions. It is used in shells, bombs, shaped charges, exploders, detonators and polymer bonded explosives. 

One disadvantage of the polymer-bonded explosives of the first generation, is that the non-energetic binder (polymer) and plasticizer lessened the performance. To overcome this problem energetic binders and plasticizers have been developed. The most prominent examples for energetic binders are (Fig. 1.5, a) ... 

Another class of explosives known as polymer bonded explosives (PBXs) was developed to reduce the sensitivity of the explosive crystals by embedding them in a rubber-like polymer, such as polystyrene. PBXs based on RDX and RDX/PETN, and also on HMX were developed (Tables 12.1 and 12.2). Energetic plasticizers have also been developed for PBXs production (Table 12.3). 

RDX. RDX, cyclonite or cyclotrimethylene trinitramine, 5, is one of the most powerful explosives (Fig. 12.3). Pure RDX is very sensitive to initiation by impact and friction. However, the polymer bonded explosive (PBX) is less sensitive as a result of embedding the RDX crystals in a polymeric matrix [4, 6, 7]. 

Azidonitrate ester is a kind of Uquid-iich nitrogen compounds, which have not only properties of nitrate ester, but also the energy of azides. They are regarded as high energy adhesion agents and plasticizers, optimized materials of future propellants and polymer-bonded explosives. They have wide application foreground. 

Temperature effect is usually considered in the study of viscoelastic materials. In order to describe the mechanical behavior of polymer bonded explosives (PBX) under... 

Explosives—Trinitrotoluene (TNT), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), polymer-bonded explosive (PBXN), Research Department Explosive (RDX) compositions, explosive D, tetryl, fulminate of mercury, black powder, smokeless powder, flashless powder, and rocket and missile propellants. 

Polymeric materials can be added to secondary explosives to produce polymer bonded explosives (PBXs). The polymers are generally used in conjunction with compatible plasticizers to produce insensitive PBXs. The polymers and plasticizers can be in the nitrated form which will increase the power of the explosive. These nitrated forms are known as energetic polymers and energetic plasticizers. 

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