Thermal Decomposition Performance of CL-20-Based Ultraviolet Curing Propellants

Photocuring formulas were designed for 3D printing technology used in forming propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics. Thermal performance is an essential part of the comprehensive performance of this kind of formula. In this paper, a formula consisting of epoxy acrylic resin (EA) as binder and hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) as the energetic additive was developed and printed by material extrusion 3D printing technology. The thermal decomposition behavior was investigated by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. Furthermore, the decomposition kinetics was calculated and analysed based on Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KSA) method. In addition, species and contents of gaseous products during decomposition were measured using the DSC-TG-FTIR-MS method. The results from these several techniques were discussed comprehensively. It was shown that the resin binder has great effects on the decomposition of CL-20. It was found that the interaction between resin and CL-20 led to two exothermic processes in the decomposition of the compound. Also, there was no overlap in the activation energy between the two processes, with 149.23 kJ/mol for the first process and 164.41 kJ/mol for the second process.

Automated summary

In this study, a photocuring formula was developed and 3D printed using a material extrusion technique for the production of propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics. The thermal decomposition behavior and kinetics of the formula were investigated, and the gaseous products during decomposition were measured. The results indicated that the resin binder significantly influenced the decomposition of the compound, which exhibited two distinct exothermic processes with different activation energies.