Nano-boron, as a potential high-energy additive due to its high calorific value, is widely studied in propellants, explosives, and thermites. However, the unexpected agglomeration of surface oxidation hinders its further application, especially in the casting of energetic materials. The fluorine-modified nano-boron nB@F2603 and nB@F2603@CL-20 preagglomerated microspheres were prepared by electrospray to improve the ignition and combustion reactions and the rheological properties of boron-containing casting systems. Sphericity microspheres could be obtained by controlling the voltage and propulsion rate. The morphology and elemental distribution of the microspheres were characterized by the scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Results showed that the particle size of the microspheres ranged from 4 to 14 µm. Boron, fluorine and nitrogen were uniformly distributed on the surface of the microspheres. XRD results showed that CL-20 in nB@F2603@CL-20 microspheres was β-crystal. The thermal reaction properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry (TG-DSC-MS), oxygen bomb calorimeter, laser ignition, and volume combustion cell test. Results showed that F2603 could significantly promote the ignition and combustion of nano-boron, causing higher energy release and pressurization rates, and lower ignition temperature. Adding CL-20 to the microspheres could also greatly promote the reaction rates and energy release. The hydrophobicity and corrosion resistance of the structures were also studied, and results showed that the preagglomerated microspheres had good stabilities. Therefore, fluorine-containing nB@F2603 and nB@F2603@CL-20 microspheres might be used in composite energetic materials, replacing nano-boron.
To examine the interactions between two binder systems—hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and hydroxyl-terminated block copolyether prepolymer (HTPE)—as well as between these binders and ammonium perchlorate (AP) at various temperatures for their susceptibility to varying degrees of thermal damage treatment, the thermal characteristics and combustion interactions of the HTPB and HTPE binder systems, HTPB/AP and HTPE/AP mixtures, and HTPB/AP/Al and HTPE/AP/Al propellants were studied. The results showed that the first and second weight loss decomposition peak temperatures of the HTPB binder were, respectively, 85.34 and 55.74 °C higher than the HTPE binder. The HTPE binder decomposed more easily than the HTPB binder. The microstructure showed that the HTPB binder became brittle and cracked when heated, while the HTPE binder liquefied when heated. The combustion characteristic index, S, and the difference between calculated and experimental mass damage, ΔW, indicated that the components interacted. The original S index of the HTPB/AP mixture was 3.34 × 10−8; S first decreased and then increased to 4.24 × 10−8 with the sampling temperature. Its combustion was initially mild, then intensified. The original S index of the HTPE/AP mixture was 3.78 × 10−8; S increased and then decreased to 2.78 × 10−8 with the increasing sampling temperature. Its combustion was initially rapid, then slowed. Under high-temperature conditions, the HTPB/AP/Al propellants combusted more intensely than the HTPE/AP/Al propellants, and its components interacted more strongly. A heated HTPE/AP mixture acted as a barrier, reducing the responsiveness of solid propellants.