Energetic materials such as furazan and furoxan exhibit superior energy performance due to their high enthalpy of formation and density. Their research as energetic materials has attracted close attention. Among such compounds, DNTF is the most representative and the most efficient material with the advantages of high energy density, high enthalpy of formation, and high nitrogen content, while high mechanical sensitivity and poor thermal stability retard its application. This paper reviews the development of DNTF over recent decades from the points of synthesis, structure, physicochemical properties, and practical applications. Perspectives of DNTF research and development are also considered.

In this research, rheokinetics is used to study the curing reaction of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and trimer of hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate (HDI-trimer) with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as catalyst under different catalyst mass fraction. The results show that the pot life of the system depends on the catalyst mass fraction in the binder system. Furthermore, with increased catalyst mass fraction, the fitting diagram obtained by plotting ln (viscosity) versus curing time shows a better linear relationship. Therefore, the amount of catalyst required to achieve a certain pot life can be calculated through the formula. It is worth mentioning that the applicable pot life equations are proposed in the paper. From the equations, we find that under isothermal curing conditions at 35 °C, when the mass fraction of DABCO was 0.216 wt.%, the pot life of the HTPB/HDI-trimer binder system reaches 4 h.

In this paper, the thermal decomposition behavior of 3,5-difluoro-2,4,6-trinitroanisole (DFTNAN) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) by using different heating rates (2, 5, 10, 15 °C·min⁻¹). Subsequently, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of non-isothermal thermal decomposition of DFTNAN were calculated. The critical temperature of thermal explosion ($T_{\mathrm{b}}$) and self-accelerating decomposition temperature ($T_{\mathrm{ASDT}}$) were determined to be 249.03 °C and 226.33 °C, respectively. The compatibility of DFTNAN with a number of high explosives (cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX), 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaaza-tetracyclo-[5.5.0.05,9.03,11]-dodecane (CL-20) and dihydroxylammonium 5,5’-bistetrazole-1,1’-diolate (TKX-50)) was studied at different mass ratios using DSC. The criteria to judge the compatibility between the materials were based on a standardization agreement (STANAG 4147). The thermodynamic study results revealed that DFTNAN possessed superior thermal safety and stability. The experimental of compatibility results indicated that the mass ratios of the high explosives in the DFTNAN/RDX, DFTNAN/HMX and DFTNAN/CL-20 compositions more than 40%, 60% and 70% exhibited good compatibility, whereas DFTNAN/TKX-50 demonstrated poor compatibility.

When stimulated, for example, by a high temperature, the physical and chemical properties of energetic materials (EMs) may change, and, in turn, their overall performance is affected. Therefore, thermal stability is crucial for EMs, especially the thermal dynamic behavior. In the past decade, significant efforts have been made to study the thermal dynamic behavior of 3,4-bis(3-nitrofurazan-4-yl)furoxan (DNTF), one of the new high-energy-density materials (HEDMs). However, the thermal decomposition mechanism of DNTF is still not specific or comprehensive. In this study, the self-consistent-charge density-functional tight-binding method was combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to reveal the differences in the thermal decomposition of DNTF under four heating conditions. The O–N (O) bond would fracture first during DNTF initial thermal decomposition at medium and low temperatures, thus triggering the cracking of the whole structure. At 2000 and 2500 K, NO₂ loss on outer ring I is the fastest initial thermal decomposition pathway, and it determines that the decomposition mechanism is different from that of a medium-low temperature. NO₂ is found to be the most active intermediate product; large molecular fragments, such as C₂N₂O, are found for the first time. Hopefully, these results could provide some insights into the decomposition mechanism of new HEDMs.

Polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) played a critical role in lethality and destruction as a vital military explosive in the world. Unfortunately, the current PBXs exhibit poor properties in safety performance and reliability for the weak interfacial surface, which cannot meet requirements of the high security and high reliability of weapons and ammunition in the harsh environment of modern battlefields. Herein, the neutral polymeric bonding agents (NPBAs) were successfully coated on the surface of 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane (HMX) and proved to enhance the mechanical performance and reliability of PBXs. The scanning electron microscopy images indicated a slight aggregation of NPBAs coated in the HMX surface, the XRD spectra of HMX@NPBAs had an analogous spectrum of HMX, and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectrum confirmed that the NPBAs played a role on the surface of HMX by coating. Furthermore, the HMX coated with NPBAs had more excellent safety performance, thermal stability, and mechanical properties. The strategy is helpful to strengthen the interaction between HMX and binder matrix, which provides a brilliant idea in modifying for the weak interfacial surface of energetic crystals.