Bio-Inspired PG/PEI Co-Deposition for Interfacial Modification of HMX/F2602

Polymers (Basel). 2025 Jun 19;17(12):1702. doi: 10.3390/polym17121702.

Abstract

The issue of interfacial inhomogeneity in energetic materials remains a significant challenge. In this study, fluoroelastomer F2602 was applied to HMX crystals using a water suspension granulation technique, followed by a bio-inspired coating formed via the crosslinking polymerization of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and pyrogallol (PG) on the HMX/F2602 composite. This process resulted in the formation of an HMX/F2602/PEI-PG microcapsule structure. Various characterization techniques confirmed that the chemical structure and polycrystalline morphology of the crystals were preserved throughout the coating process, maintaining the characteristic β-HMX morphology. The introduction of the PG-PEI shell significantly improved the coating coverage and minimized the exposure of crystal surfaces. Furthermore, compared to HMX/F2602, the HMX/F2602/PEI-PG composite exhibited notably enhanced thermal stability and reduced mechanical sensitivity. These improvements are attributed to the advantageous effects of the microcapsule structure formed by the bio-inspired coating on the material's properties.

Keywords: HMX; crosslinking polymerization; mechanical sensitivity.