Synthesis, Characterization, and Energetic Properties of Nitrate Ester Acrylate Polymer.

An energetic nitrate ester acrylate monomer (4) was synthesized in a total yield of 68% and polymerized to form the energetic nitrate ester acrylate polymer (NEAP). Compound 4 is a liquid at room temperature with a melting point of -8.6 °C and NEAP is a solid with a glass-transition temperature of -8.8 °C. Intermediates leading to 4 and NEAP were characterized by high-resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies (1H and 13C{1H} NMR). Both 4 and NEAP have electrostatic discharge, friction, and impact sensitivities comparable to those of trinitrotoluene, making NEAP a potential candidate for advanced energetic formulations.

Switchable Explosives: Performance Tuning of Fluid-Activated High Explosive Architectures.

We present our discovery of switchable high explosives (HEs) as a new class of energetic material that cannot detonate unless filled with a fluid. The performance of fluid-filled additive-manufactured HE lattices is herein evaluated by analysis of detonation velocity and Gurney energy. The Gurney energy of the unfilled lattice was 98% lower than that of the equivalent water-filled lattice and changing the fluid mechanical properties allowed tuning of the Gurney energy and detonation velocity by 8.5% and 13.4%, respectively. These results provide, for the first time since the development of HEs, a method to completely remove the hazard of unplanned detonations during storage and transport.

[3+2] click chemistry approach to tetrazine containing polymers.

We report a [3+2] cycloaddition using 3,6-bis-propargyloxy-1,2,4,5-tetrazine and azides to synthesize energetic polymers containing 1,2,4,5-tetrazine within the scaffold. This work also includes [3+2] cycloaddition to crosslink azide containing glycidyl azide polymer (GAP). These reactions provide pathways for incorporation of 1,2,4,5-tetrazine into novel energetic materials using click-chemistry and provide an alternative polymer curing approach.

Balancing Functionality and Printability: High-Loading Polymer Resins for Direct Ink Writing.

Although direct ink writing (DIW) allows the rapid fabrication of unique 3D printed objects, the resins-or "inks"-available for this technique are in short supply and often offer little functionality, leading to the development of new, custom inks. However, when creating new inks, the ability of the ink to lead to a successful print, or the "printability," must be considered. Thus, this work examined the effect of filler composition/concentration, printing parameters, and lattice structure on the printability of new polysiloxane inks incorporating high concentrations (50-70 wt%) of metallic and ceramic fillers as well as emulsions. Results suggest that strut diameter and spacing ratio have the most influence on the printability of DIW materials and that the printability of silica- and metal-filled inks is more predictable than ceramic-filled inks. Additionally, higher filler loadings and SC geometries led to stiffer printed parts than lower loadings and FCT geometries, and metal-filled inks were more thermally stable than ceramic-filled inks. The findings in this work provide important insights into the tradeoffs associated with the development of unique and/or multifunctional DIW inks, printability, and the final material's performance.

In Situ Imaging during Compression of Plastic Bonded Explosives for Damage Modeling.

The microstructure of plastic bonded explosives (PBXs) is known to influence behavior during mechanical deformation, but characterizing the microstructure can be challenging. For example, the explosive crystals and binder in formulations such as PBX 9501 do not have sufficient X-ray contrast to obtain three-dimensional data by in situ, absorption contrast imaging. To address this difficulty, we have formulated a series of PBXs using octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) crystals and low-density binder systems. The binders were hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) or glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) cured with a commercial blend of acrylic monomers/oligomers. The binder density is approximately half of the HMX, allowing for excellent contrast using in situ X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging. The samples were imaged during unaxial compression using micro-scale CT in an interrupted in situ modality. The rigidity of the binder was observed to significantly influence fracture, crystal-binder delamination, and flow. Additionally, 2D slices from the segmented 3D images were meshed for finite element simulation of the mesoscale response. At low stiffness, the binder and crystal do not delaminate and the crystals move with the material flow; at high stiffness, marked delamination is noted between the crystals and the binder, leading to very different mechanical properties. Initial model results exhibit qualitatively similar delamination.