A polymer-bonded explosive, also called PBX or plastic-bonded explosive, is an explosive material in which explosive powder is bound together in a matrix using small quantities (typically 5–10% by weight) of a synthetic polymer ("plastic").

PBXs are normally used for explosive materials which are not easily meltable to cast or which are otherwise hard to form.

Polymer-bonded explosives have several potential advantages:

• If the polymer matrix is an elastomer (rubbery material), it tends to absorb shocks, making the PBX very insensitive to accidental detonation.
• Hard polymers can produce PBX that is very rigid and maintains a precise engineering shape even under severe stress.
• PBX powders can be pressed into a particular shape at room temperature, when casting normally requires hazardous melting of the explosive. High pressure pressing can achieve density for the material very close to the theoretical crystal density of the base explosive material.
• Many PBXes are safe to machine — to turn solid blocks into complex three-dimensional shapes. For example, a billet of PBX can, if necessary, be precisely shaped on a lathe. This technique is used at nuclear weapons fabrication plants.

Some example PBXs

Name	Explosive Ingredients	Binder Ingredients	Usage
EDC-37	91% HMX/NC	9% polyurethane rubber
LX-04-1	HMX 85%	Viton-A 15%
LX-07-2	HMX 90%	Viton-A 10%
LX-09-0	HMX 93%	BDNPA 4.6%; FEFO 2.4%
LX-09-1	HMX 93.3%	BDNPA 4.4%; FEFO 2.3%
LX-10-0	HMX 95%	Viton-A 5%
LX-10-1	HMX 94.5%	Viton-A 5.5%
LX-11-0	HMX 80%	Viton-A 20%
LX-14-0	HMX 95.5%	Estane & 5702-Fl 4.5%
LX-15	HNIS 95%	Kel-F 800 5%
LX-16	PETN 96%	FPC461 6%
LX-17-0	TATB 92.5%	Kel-F 800 7.5%
PBX 9007	RDX 90%	Polystyrene 9.1%; DOP 0.5%; rosin 0.4%
PBX 9010	RDX 90%	Kel-F 3700 10%
PBX 9011	HMX 90%	Estane and 5703-Fl 10%
PBX 9205	RDX 92%	Polystyrene 6%; DOP 2%
PBX 9404	HMX 94%	NC 3%; CEF 3%	Nuclear Weapons
PBX 9407	RDX 94%	FPC461 6%
PBX 9501	HMX 95%	Estane 2.5%; BDNPA-F 2.5%	Nuclear Weapons
PBX 9502	TATB 95%	Kel-F 800 5%	Nuclear Weapons
PBX 9503	TATB 80%; HMX 15%	Kel-F 800 5%
PBX 9604	RDX 96%	Kel-F 800 4%
PBXN-106	RDX	polyurethane rubber	Naval shells
PBXN-3	RDX 85%	Nylon 15%	AIM9-X Sidewinder Missile
PBXN-5	95% HMX	5% fluoroelastomer	Naval shells
X-0242	92% HMX	8% polymer

References

• Cooper, Paul W. Explosives Engineering. New York: Wiley-VCH, 1996. ISBN 0-471-18636-8.
• Norris, Robert S., Hans M. Kristensen, and Joshua Handler. "The B61 family of bombs", 2003.