Unraveling the atypical co-crystal transformation process and mechanism of CL-20 and HMX in solid propellant formulations
The integration of CL-20 into solid propellants offers substantial potential for enhancing energy output, yet introduces critical challenges related to structural instability during multi-component blending, aging, and long-term storage. This work employs in-situ and off-line XRD, OM, and complement...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425012050 |
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| Summary: | The integration of CL-20 into solid propellants offers substantial potential for enhancing energy output, yet introduces critical challenges related to structural instability during multi-component blending, aging, and long-term storage. This work employs in-situ and off-line XRD, OM, and complementary analytical techniques to probe the atypical co-crystallization pathways governing the interaction between CL-20 and HMX in propellant formulations. Key findings demonstrate that CL-20 and HMX spontaneously form a thermodynamically stable 2:1 co-crystal (2CL-20/HMX) not only in nitrate ester plasticizers (e.g., DOS) but also within polymeric binders such as GAP and HTPE, contrary to the inert behavior observed in HTPB, AP, or Al-containing systems. Kinetic analysis further established that the co-crystal structure transformation process is rate-limited by nucleation barriers, consistent with a kinetically controlled transformation mechanism. Moreover, the interaction between CL-20 and HMX proceeds through a solvent-mediated interface dissolution-reorganization pathway, thermodynamically favored by energy minimization. These results provide a fundamental understanding of co-crystal structure transformation in composite solid propellants containing HMX and CL-20. The resolution of co-crystallization mechanisms advances the practical implementation of CL-20-based propellants by reconciling energy enhancement with structural reliability. |
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| ISSN: | 2238-7854 |