Preparation and study of energetic B/GAP/PFA microspheres

Boron(B) exhibits tremendous potential as a solid fuel owing to its considerably higher energy density than those of conventional molecular explosives. However, its oxidation products exhibit low melting points and self-healing properties, which severely inhibit the associated energy release. To enhance boron energy release, 50-nm energetic B/ glycidyl azide polymer (GAP)/perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA) microspheres were prepared using GAP as a binder via an emulsion self-assembly method. Further, the combustion performances of 5-μm and 50-nm B/GAP/PFA fuels prepared via solvent evaporation were systematically investigated, and the combustion properties of the three boron-based fuels were compared. Results demonstrate that the prepared energetic microspheres can prevent the adverse effects of boron combustion that lead to the agglomeration of surrounding materials, thereby facilitating oxygen diffusion into the system. Furthermore, spherical boron particles exhibited sustained and stable combustion characteristics while achieving enhanced energy release.