A Three‐Dimensional Hierarchical Dandelion‐Like HMX Architecture Formed at a Liquid‐Liquid Interface

Abstract

A facile and mild method, liquid‐liquid interface crystallization (LLIC), is reported for the fabrication of the hierarchical structure of octahydro‐1,3,5‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine (HMX) under ambient conditions. The morphology and structure are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A three‐dimensional hierarchical dandelion‐like HMX architecture is obtained through self‐assembling of the submicron particles with a main diameter range of 250–700nm at the interface of DMSO solution and CH2Cl2. Except the main polymorph β, the δ phase is found in the product. Thermal analyses are performed, and the kinetic parameter is calculated. The results indicate that hierarchical structure HMX presents much higher activation energy (280.82 KJ mol−1) than raw HMX (258.90 KJ mol−1). Similarly, the exothermic decomposition peak of HMX hierarchical structure also reaches 287.7 °C and is basically the same as raw HMX (288.4 °C). From the results of the sensitivity tests, the impact and friction sensitivities of HMX are significantly increased compared with those of raw HMX. In this work, the successful application of LLIC to energetic materials is demonstrated, thereby providing a potential method for the preparation of hierarchical structure of high‐energy ammonium nitrate explosives.