Preparation and Performance Study of High-Energy RDX/ZrH2/F2602 Energetic Composite Particles with Enhanced Safety

Metal hydrides are ideal additives for solid propellants, which can improve the energy level and load capacity of solid propellants. However, the safety and interaction mechanisms between metal hydrides and energetic materials remain unclear, which limits their broader application in propellants. In this study, RDX/ZrH2/F2602 energetic composite particles with varying ZrH2 contents were prepared using the molding powder method and subsequently characterized in terms of their performance. The experimental results demonstrate that the energetic composite particles display a regular morphology and dense structure, with no changes observed in their chemical and crystal structures. As the ZrH2 content increases, the thermal stability and thermal explosion critical temperature of the composite particles decrease. In comparison to the raw material RDX, the energetic composite particles with 10% and 15% ZrH2 contents exhibit better mechanical sensitivity, with critical impact values increasing by 6 J and 5.5 J, respectively, and critical friction values increasing by 84 N and 60 N, respectively. Combustion experiments reveal that energetic composite particles containing 15% ZrH2 demonstrate superior comprehensive performance in terms of safety and combustion, outperforming those with other ZrH2 contents. The oxidative combustion mechanism of RDX/ZrH2/F2602 energetic composite Particles is discussed, offering insights into the interaction between metal hydrides and the combustion of energetic materials. This research establishes a theoretical framework to support the design and improvement of solid propellant formulations.