Oil-in-water nanoemulsion adhesive system: Preparation by ultrasonic homogenization and its application in 3D direct writing composite energetic materials

Abstract

Stable and low-particle size nanoemulsions were prepared using ultrasound homogenization. The conditions for preparing low-viscosity nanoemulsions were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) experimental design. The results showed that the addition of composite surfactants at 1%, an ultrasound amplitude of 35%, an ultrasound time of 4 min, and an ultrasound temperature of 20 °C yielded nanoemulsions with the best particle size and stability. The particle distribution was uniform, and the cold and heat stability were good. Compared with traditional emulsions, the low-viscosity nanoemulsion had better environmental stability, storage stability, and exhibited a phenomenon of self-reducing particle size at 40–55 °C, indicating that the emulsion had good performance under complex environmental conditions. The performance test of composite energetic materials using two types of emulsions as bonding systems showed that the low-viscosity nanoemulsion composite energetic material effectively reduced friction sensitivity, increased detonation velocity, and had better thermal stability and smaller propagation size. The results confirmed that the low-viscosity nanoemulsion perfectly met the requirements of bonding agents for composite energetic materials. This study provides a new approach for bonding agent systems of composite energetic materials and can serve as a new method to meet the special requirements of composite energetic materials.