The first PBX was developed in 1952 by scientists at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratories. It was designed as a response to recently developed explosive crystals such as cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, also called "RDX." These new types of materials were too volatile and sensitive to be used in traditional explosive devices, so a new way to allow them to be used practically was devised. RDX was the original explosive molded into a polymer-bonded explosive, but there have been several other types made since 1952.
Despite the implication of the name "polymer-bonded," PBX materials are not traditional plastic explosives as they cannot be molded by hand. The polymer used to bond with the explosives is a hard rubber or plastic material. This polymer can sometimes be used to enhance the explosive power of the material with the use of energetic materials that ignite during detonation. This benefit can decrease over time as the polymer degrades. The hardness of the polymer also makes PBXs extremely durable and resistant to accidental detonation as the polymer can absorb accidental shock.
Polymers, when used in the manufacture of a PBX, act as a plastic binding agent for the explosive material to be mixed into. This process yields a feasible explosive material for a variety of uses. Many different polymers are used to produce polymer-bonded explosives. Standard plastic and rubber-like materials are used such as nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, latex and epoxy ether. More complicated polymers like polyurethane, hydroxy-terminated polyester, hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene and butyl rubber can also be used.
There are a few different explosive materials used in PBXs. These materials are too explosive to be used in the field on their own. Being mixed into a polymer makes them usable. While RDX was the first explosive to be used, other types have since come into the mix. Cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), hexanistrostilbene (HNS), pentarythritol (PETN), 5-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-3-one (NTO) and 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene. NTO and HMX can also be used together in a single PBX. No single polymer is used every time with one explosive. For example, HMX can be bonded with nylon.