Nacre-inspired interface structure design of polymer bonded explosives toward significantly enhanced mechanical performance

• Published in: Defence technology Vol. 27; no. 9; pp. 83 - 92
• Main Authors: Wang, Peng, Chen, You-long, Meng, Li, Sun, Yin-shuang, Dai, Yu, Li, Xin, Chen, Jie, Yang, Zhi-jian, He, Guan-song
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2023; Institute of Chemical Material,China Academy of Engineering Physics,Mianyang,621900,China; KeAi Communications Co., Ltd
• Subjects: Cellulose; Graphene; Mechanical properties; Nacre-like structural layer; Polymer bonded explosives; Mechanical properties; Nacre-like structural layer; Graphene; Polymer bonded explosives; Cellulose
• ISSN: 2214-9147; 2096-3459; 2214-9147
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dt.2022.10.013

Realizing effective enhancement to the structure of interface region between explosive crystals and polymer binder plays a key role in improving the mechanical properties of the current polymer bonded explosives (PBXs). Herein, inspired by the structure of natural nacre which possesses outstanding mechanical performance, a kind of nacre-like structural layer is constructed in the interface region of PBXs composites, making use of two-dimensional graphene sheets and one-dimensional bio-macromolecules of cellulose as inorganic and organic building blocks, respectively. Our results reveal that the constructed nacre-like structural layer can effectively improve the interfacial strength and then endow the PBXs composites with significantly enhanced mechanical properties involving of creep resistance, Brazilian strength and fracture toughness, demonstrating the obvious advantage of such bioinspired interface structure design strategy. In addition, the thermal conduction performance of PBXs composites also exhibits noticeable enhancement due to the remarkable phonon transport capability endowed by the as-designed nacre-like structural layer. We believe this work provides a novel design route to conquer the issue of weak interfacial strength in PBXs composites and greatly increase the comprehensive properties for better meeting the higher requirements proposed to the explosive part of weapon equipment in new era. [Display omitted] •A kind of nacre-like structural layer is constructed in the interface region of polymer bonded explosives (PBXs).•The constructed nacre-like structural layer endowed the PBXs composites with significantly enhanced mechanical properties.•Based on the finite-element method simulations, the mechanical enhancing effect of the PBXs composites was studied in detail.