Direct Observation and Characterization of the Interphase of Composite Explosives via AFM

The Air Force Research Laboratory has interests in increasing the mechanical resilience of highly loaded composite systems that must survive harsh thermomechanical environments. Mechanical failure is commonly induced and propagated in these materials at the interfaces between the matrix and particulate constituents. In this work, we explore the progression of damage occurring at the interface boundaries in composite systems undergoing forced failure via mechanical loading. Advanced microstructural characterization techniques (e.g., Micro X-Ray Computed Tomography, Radiography, Atomic Force Microscopy, etc.) are employed to evaluate the effectiveness of chemical additives for tailoring the adhesion properties at the interfaces.