A low-cost bionic interface modification strategy for enhancing the safety performance of energetic powders using PCPA@MXene double coating

Based on a simple catechol-amine co-precipitation strategy and biomimetic adhesion characteristics, this study prepared a desensitized CL-20@PCPA core-shell energetic powder using the phenolic and amino compound containing low-cost polycatechol/polyamine (PCPA). The results indicate that the CL-20@PCPA composite powder exhibited an elevated characteristic drop height of impact sensitivity (H₅₀) of 34.9 cm and a reduced friction explosion probability of 56 % compared to pure CL-20. PCPA, containing catechol and amine groups, provided a stable platform for secondary modification to enhance the safety of the powder further. Notably, when the CL-20@PCPA@MXene powder was introduced into a propellant system, the resulting propellants displayed a high H₅₀ value of 20.3 cm while its heat of detonation remained unchanged. This study provides a simple and low-cost biomimetic interface modification strategy for preparing desensitized energetic materials.