Fabrication and Characterization of PMMA/HMX-based Microcapsules via in situ Polymerization

Microcapsule technology was applied with nitramine explosives to improve their performance. Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) was selected for the fabrication of 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX) based microcapsules. The PMMA/HMX-based microcapsules were prepared via a facile in situ polymerization of PMMA on the surface of the HMX crystals. Structural characterization of the PMMA/HMX microcapsules was studied systematically by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and their thermal durability as well as their mechanical sensitivities were measured. The results indicated that spherical microcapsules were formed, with PMMA as the capsule wall and HMX as the core material. The SEM results showed that the grains of the PMMA/HMX microcapsules were spherical and that the particle distribution was homogeneous. XRD and FT-IR analyses indicated that the HMX polymorph was preserved in the optimal β-form during the whole preparative process. The DSC results showed that the PMMA/HMX microcapsules had better thermal decomposition performance, and that the apparent activation energy of the microcapsules had increased by 47.3 kJ/mol compared to the recrystallized HMX, and its thermal stability had greatly improved. In addition, the drop height (H50) had increased from 30.45 cm to 58.49 cm, an increase of 65.81%. Thus, microcapsule technology will have a very wide range of applications in reducing the sensitivity of high energy materials in the future.