Preparation and performances characterization of HNIW/NTO-based high-energetic low vulnerable polymer-bonded explosive

To satisfy the energy and security requirements of the explosives, it is necessary to develop high-energetic low vulnerable explosive. As the representatives of high-energetic explosives and low vulnerable explosives, hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIW) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one (NTO) are used to research high-energetic low vulnerable polymer-bonded explosive (PBX) in this study. Based on the formulation of PAX-11 (94 mass% HNIW, 2.4 mass% CAB, 3.6 mass% BDNPA/F), some HNIW is replaced by NTO to reduce the vulnerability of the PBX during this work. Solution−water suspension method was used to prepare a series PBXs with different formulations. The explosion probability method, differential scanning calorimeter and accelerating rate calorimeter are used to evaluate the hazards of different PBX molding powders. And the thermal vulnerabilities, mechanical properties and energy levels of PBX columns are assessed by slow cook-off tests, tensile strengthes and detonation velocities, respectively. Moreover, finite element numerical simulations are adopted to study the transient temperature distributions, ignition time and ignition locations of the PBX columns during slow cook-off. The investigated results show that when the mass fraction of HNIW and NTO is 50% and 44%, respectively, the PBX passes the slow cook-off test and the detonation velocity reaches 8685 m s⁻¹. To balance the energy and vulnerability of the PBXs, we obtain a high-energetic low vulnerable PBX formulation (50 mass% HNIW, 44 mass% NTO, 2.4 mass% CAB, 3.6 mass% BDNPA/F, 0.5 mass% additional graphite) which can be used in the warhead of the high-explosive anti-tank cartridge.