Polymer-bonded secondary explosives

Abstract

In this paper, a review of the available literature on physical and explosive properties of explosive compositions containing a secondary explosive and a polymer binder (PBX) is presented. The review focused on an analysis of the properties of compositions containing mostly synthetic polymers. The review showed that, at the moment, the most commonly used composition is a hexogen-based explosive bonded with a chemically cross-linked hydroxylterminated polybutadiene. The use of energetic polymers in PBX compositions was observed only in the experimental systems tested on a laboratory scale. The most popular methods of forming compositions include pressing a previously phlegmatized explosive or chemical cross-linking of the composition in the projectile shell. Compositions which can be formed and reloaded using injection machines are known, but due to many limitations, the method is not widely used.