Effects of Glycerol Tribenzoate on the Mechanical Properties and Reaction Characteristics of Al/THV Reactive Materials Prepared by Extrusion-Injection Molding

The metal/fluoropolymer reactive material, Al/THV composites, can be prepared effectively into different shapes by extrusion injection molding. In this study, glycerol tribenzoate (GTB) plasticizer was introduced into Al/THV (35/65 wt %) prepared by extrusion and injection molding. The addition of GTB significantly affected certain properties of the matrix (THV), which consequently affected the mechanical properties and impact energy-release characteristics of the reactive material. Research shows that the addition of GTB can improve the plasticity of Al/THV(/GTB) composites under quasi-static compression and strain rate sensitivity under 2000–6000 s⁻¹ dynamic compression. Besides, the addition of GTB caused the Al/THV/GTB composites to ignite later than the Al/THV composite. The impact ignition threshold of Al/THV(/GTB) composites increased from 5100 to 5550 s⁻¹ with an increased GTB content. The impact ignition delay and increased impact ignition threshold of Al/THV/GTB were demonstrated through the temperature rise theory at the tip of crack propagation. In addition, under dynamic compression, more “hot spots”(origins of the reaction) in the Al/THV/GTB composites than in Al/THV composite caused by a rapid crack propagation increased the reaction percentage and improved the combustion duration of impact-triggered reactions.