Preparation of flame-retardant HNS/DAAF energetic composite microspheres using droplet microfluidic technology

Abstract

2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-Hexanitrostilbene (HNS) exhibits excellent detonation performance and has the potential to play a significant role in aerospace technology. However, its application is limited by the extreme space environment. In this study, glycidyl azide polymer/nitrocellulose (GAP/NC) was used as a binder to prepare HNS/DAAF energetic composite microspheres with different mass ratios using droplet microfluidic technology. The morphology, particle size, crystal structure, thermal decomposition, bulk density, mechanical sensitivity, and combustion behavior of the microspheres were characterized and tested. The results showed that the HNS/DAAF composite microspheres exhibited high sphericity and narrow particle size distribution while preserving the crystal structure of HNS. Compared to raw HNS, the HNS/DAAF composite microspheres demonstrated improved thermal stability and enhanced safety performance. Additionally, ignition experiments revealed that the addition of DAAF effectively suppressed the combustion of HNS. These findings provide valuable insights for the safe utilization of HNS in high-temperature environments.