Construction of Typical Nitroamine Explosives Lamellae and Their Morphology Effect Responding to Mechanical Stimuli

Lamella is an ideal structure for reducing the sensitivity of explosives, but the intrinsic correlation between its action mechanisms and morphology remains unclear, and the preparation of lamellae with different shapes still presents significant challenges. To address this, a triangular cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX) lamella and a rhombic cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) lamella were first prepared using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the crystallization regulator via a solvent-antisolvent method, and their formation mechanisms and sensitivity-related properties were characterized and analyzed. Then, finite-element simulations were performed to quantify the inherent relationship between the strain and the lamella thickness under various mechanical loads, providing a reasonable theoretical explanation to account for the differing sensitivity enhancements. Finally, further combining the simulation results of square and rectangular lamellae, a “morphology effect” of lamellae responding to mechanical stimuli was proposed, indicating that the lamellae below the critical size have a common tendency to reduce sensitivity in three stages: fast linear, exponential, and slow linear. The morphology only affects the friction sensitivity than the impact sensitivity. The optimal morphology for reducing mechanical sensitivity is rectangular lamellae, followed by the square and the triangle, all of which are far superior to the rhombus.