Interfacial engineering endowing energetic co-particles with high density and reduced sensitivity

Interface regulating is considered as a promising approach for optimizing the energy and safety performance of energetic materials (EMs). Nevertheless, realizing effective promotion of safety performance meanwhile maintaining a high energy level is still a big challenge to energetic 1,3,5,7-tetranittro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX). Herein, novel energetic composites proposed by introducing 2,4,6 trinitrobenzene-1,3,5-triamine (TATB) at the HMX interface (denoted as HMX/TATB co-particles, cp-HMX/TATB) have been achieved by a simple hydrothermal assembly. High HMX mass contents (90%) in co-particle ensure high energy levels. Experimental and molecular dynamics simulation suggested the coupling of nitro-group in HMX and amino-group in TATB is the main driving force for the strong interfacial contact along specific crystalline directions, endowing tightly interfacial contact and assembly with low porosity. Integrated cp-HMX/TATB demonstrated enhanced crystal density and fast decomposition kinetics. Moreover, resultant energetic cp-HMX/TATB deliver superior Bundesanstalt-für-Materialforschung (BAM) sensitivities (impact: 65 J, friction: 288 N) amongst reported HMX-based EMs and much improved detonation velocity and pressure of 9173.35 m s⁻¹ and 39.65 GPa, respectively, indicating a combination of efficient desensitization and high energy level. Detailed understanding of the interface properties in high-energy explosives generated by the interfacial engineering sheds lights on the design of efficient energetic material system with high energy and favorable safety.