Study on the interfacial interaction between ammonium perchlorate and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene in solid propellants by molecular dynamics simulation

Abstract The interfacial interaction between the main oxidant filler ammonium perchlorate (AP) and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) matrix in AP/HTPB propellants were studied via an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation. The results of the simulation showed the effects of the microscopic cross-linked structure of the matrix, stretching rate during uniaxial stretching, and contact area between the filler and matrix on the mechanical properties, such as the stress and strain of the composite solid propellant. Among the aforementioned factors, the stretching rate considerably affects the mechanical properties of the solid propellant, and the maximum stress of the solid propellant proportionally increases with the stretching rate. When defects were introduced on the surface of the AP filler, the contact area between the filler and matrix affected the strain type of the matrix molecules. Owing to the interaction between the molecules and atoms, the strain behaviour of the matrix molecule changed with the change in its microscopic cross-linked structure during uniaxial stretching. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to explore the characteristics at the AP–HTPB interface in AP/HTPB propellants. The aforementioned simulation results further revealed the interfacial interaction mechanism of the AP–HTPB matrix and provided a theoretical basis for the design of high-performance propellants.