Ameliorating the sensitivities, thermal and combustion properties of RDX by in situ self-assembly TA-Pb/Cu shells to RDX surface

• Published in: Arabian journal of chemistry 2023-03, Vol.16 (3), p.104497, Article 104497
• Main Authors: Lan, Guanchao, Zhang, Guangyuan, Shen, Jinjie, Jin, Guoliang, Wang, Jianlong, Li, Jing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalytic; In situ self-assembly coating; RDX@TA-Pb/Cu
• ISSN: 1878-5352; 1878-5379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.104497

In order to ameliorate the sensitivities, thermal and combustion properties of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), tannic acid (TA) is used to react with lead and copper via in situ self-assembly to coat RDX for preparing RDX@TA-Pb/Cu microcapsules. The structures of RDX@TA-Pb/Cu microcapsules are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FT-IR). The surface topography of RDX@TA-Pb/Cu microcapsules are characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The mechanical sensitivities and explosion points of RDX@TA-Pb/Cu microcapsules are measured to study the influence of TA-Pb/Cu shells on mechanical and thermal safeties of RDX. The non-isothermal properties of RDX@TA-Pb/Cu microcapsules are characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The catalytic effects of TA-Pb/Cu shells on RDX are characterized by accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC). The residues of RDX@TA-Pb/Cu microcapsules after combustion in air are collected and characterized by SEM and XRD to further study the catalytic effect of TA-Pb/Cu shells. The study results show that a 150 nm TA-Pb/Cu shells are uniformly coated on RDX surfaces. The chemical structure of RDX maintains constant during in situ self-assembly coating process. The mechanical and thermal safeties of RDX are enhanced after coating with TA-Pb/Cu shells. The decomposition and combustion property of RDX can be catalyzed by TA-Pb/Cu, and the catalytic effects of in situ self-assembly coating are better than that of physical mixing. The RDX@TA-Pb/Cu microcapsules can be used in RDX based composite modified double base (CMDB) propellants.