In order to study the microstructures of submicron TATB and their effects on TATB thermal properties, three different ultrafine TATB particles were prepared by supersonic airflow impacting method, recrystalling method and recrystalling -supersonic speed airflow impacting method respectively. Their particles size, particle shape and surface microstructure, thermal decomposition temperature and thermal performance were also discussed. The results show that D50 of all three samples was around 200 nm, most particles obtained by supersonic airflow impacting method were spheroidal or ellipsoid, particles surface was much smooth and particles size was asymmetry. While particles obtained by recrystalling method looked like strips with many defects on their surface, and particles obtained by recrystalling-supersonic speed airflow impacting method looked also like strips but with smooth surface and less defects. DTA exothermic peak and 5 seconds (5 S) deflagration point temperature of samples obtained by supersonic airflow impacting method and recrystalling -supersonicd airflow impacting method are close, yet DTA exothermic peak and 5 S deflagration point temperature of recrystalling samples falls more than 10 degree and activation energy falls about 8 kJ.mol-1 compared with other two samples. It was reckoned that the particles defects of submicron TATB should have a remarkable effect on their thermal properties while particles shape and purity had a little effect on thermal properties.
Microstructure, Thermal properties, Submicron, TATB.