Neutral Polymeric Bonding Agents (NPBA) and Their Use in Smokeless Composite Rocket Propellants Based on HMX‐GAP‐BuNENA

Very few efficient bonding agents for use in solid rocket propellants with nitramine filler materials and energetic binder systems are currently available. In this work, we report the synthesis, detailed characterization, and use of neutral polymeric bonding agents (NPBA) in isocyanate‐cured and smokeless composite rocket propellants based on the nitramine octogen (HMX), the energetic binder glycidyl azide polymer (GAP), and the energetic plasticizer N‐butyl‐2‐nitratoethylnitramine (BuNENA). These polymeric bonding agents clearly influenced the viscosity of the uncured propellant mixtures and provided significantly enhanced mechanical properties to the cured propellants, even at low NPBA concentrations (down to 0.001 wt‐% of propellant). A modified NPBA more or less free of hydroxyl functionalities for interactions with isocyanate curing agent provided the same level of mechanical improvement as regular NPBA containing a substantial number of reactive hydroxyl groups. However, some degree of reactivity towards isocyanate is essential for function.     

Mechanical Properties of Smokeless Composite Rocket Propellants Based on Prilled Ammonium Dinitramide

Ammonium dinitramide (ADN) is a high performance solid oxidizer of interest for use in high impulse and smokeless composite rocket propellant formulations. While rocket propellants based on ADN may be both efficient, clean burning, and environmentally benign, ADN suffers from several notable disadvantages such as pronounced hygroscopicity, significant impact and friction sensitivity, moderate thermal instability, and numerous compatibility issues. Prilled ADN is now a commercially available and convenient product that addresses some of these disadvantages by lowering the specific surface area and thereby improving handling, processing, and stability. In this work, we report the preparation, friction and impact sensitivity and mechanical properties of several smokeless propellant formulations based on prilled ADN and isocyanate cured and plasticized glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) or polycaprolactone‐polyether. We found such propellants to have very poor mechanical properties in unmodified form and to display somewhat unreliable curing. However, by incorporation of octogen (HMX) and a neutral polymeric bonding agent (NPBA), the mechanical properties of such smokeless formulations were significantly improved. Impact and friction sensitivities of these propellants compare satisfactorily with conventional propellants based on ammonium perchlorate (AP) and inert binder systems.     

Curing of Glycidyl Azide Polymer (GAP) Diol Using Isocyanate,Isocyanate‐Free,Synchronous Dual,and Sequential Dual Curing Systems

Glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) is an important energetic binder candidate for new minimum signature solid composite rocket propellants, but the mechanical properties of such GAP propellants are often limited. The mechanical characteristics of composite rocket propellants are mainly determined by the nature of the binder system and the binder‐filler interactions. In this work, we report a detailed investigation into curing systems for GAP diol with the objective of attaining the best possible mechanical characteristics as evaluated by uniaxial tensile testing of non‐plasticized polymer specimens. We started out by investigating isocyanate and isocyanate‐free curing systems, the latter by using the crystalline and easily soluble alkyne curing agent bispropargylhydroquinone (BPHQ). In the course of the presented study, we then assessed the feasibility of dual curing systems, either by using BPHQ and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) simultaneously (synchronous dual curing), or by applying propargyl alcohol and IPDI consecutively (sequential dual curing). The latter method, which employs propargyl alcohol as a readily available and adjustable hydroxyl‐telechelic branching agent for GAP through thermal triazole formation, gave rise to polymer specimens with mechanical characteristics that compared favorably with the best polymer specimens obtained from GAP diol and mixed isocyanate curatives. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of non‐plasticized samples was heightened when triazole‐based curing agents were included, but when plasticized with nitratoethylnitramine (NENA) plasticizer, T_g values were very similar, irrespective of the curing method.     

Isocyanate‐Free Curing of Glycidyl Azide Polymer with Bis–propargylhydroquinone

Bis‐propargylhydroquinone (BPHQ) is an alkyne functionalized isocyanate‐free curing agent for hydroxyl terminated azido polymers. Conventionally, glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) is cured by isocyanate based curatives, which are toxic and hygroscopic in nature. The reaction between hydroxyl end group of GAP and isocyanate is highly sensitive to moisture causing voids in the propellant, leading to poor mechanical properties. Herein, an alternate approach was adapted to exploit 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction between azido group of GAP and the triple bond (–C≡CH) of BPHQ without catalyst at 50 °C forming triazole crosslinked polymer. The curing behavior of GAP‐BPHQ system was studied by rheological method and based on the results the gel time was determined. In addition, the reaction between GAP and BPHQ was carried out with various GAP/BPHQ ratios (0.9 to 2.5) and effects on mechanical properties of resulting triazole polymers were investigated. Post curing hardness of GAP‐BPHQ binder system was tested by surface Shore‐A hardness measurement. The compatibility of BPHQ with energetic oxidizers such as ammonium dinitramide (ADN) and hydrazinium nitroformate (HNF) were also studied by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) technique and showed good compatibility. The activation energy (E _a) of cured GAP‐BPHQ binder was evaluated by DSC using Ozawa and Kissinger methods and are found to be 33.55 and 33.16 kcal mol^–1, respectively. The advantage of this curing system between GAP and BPHQ is unaffected by moisture as compared to isocyanate based urethane systems and also no need to control humidity during the processing of propellant. The experimental results reveal that triazole crosslinked polymer system could be a better choice to develop novel energetic binder systems for explosives as well as propellants composition with improved performance and eco‐friendly nature.     

Smokeless GAP‐RDX Composite Rocket Propellants Containing Diaminodinitroethylene (FOX‐7)

Composite rocket propellants prepared from nitramine fillers (RDX or HMX), glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) binder and energetic plasticizers are potential substitutes for smokeless double‐base propellants in some rocket motors. In this work, we report GAP‐RDX propellants, wherein the nitramine filler has been partly or wholly replaced by 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethylene (FOX‐7). These smokeless propellants, containing 60% energetic solids and 15% N‐butyl‐2‐nitratoethylnitramine (BuNENA) energetic plasticizer, exhibited markedly reduced shock sensitivity with increasing content of FOX‐7. Conversely, addition of FOX‐7 reduced the thermochemical performance of the propellants, and samples without nitramine underwent unsteady combustion at lower pressures (no burn rate catalyst was added). The mechanical characteristics were quite modest for all propellant samples, and binder‐filler interactions improved slightly with increasing content of FOX‐7. Overall, FOX‐7 remains an attractive, but less than ideal, substitute for nitramines in smokeless GAP propellants.     

A Study on the Triazole Crosslinked Polymeric Binder Based on Glycidyl Azide Polymer and Dipolarophile Curing Agents

Instead of using urethane curing systems, which have long been used as solid propellants, a triazole curing system has been introduced into a new binder recipe in which azide groups in the polymer react with triple bonds of a dipolarophile curing agent. Commercially available glycidyl azide polymers (GAP) were used and an aliphatic curing agent, bispropargyl succinate (BPS), as well as an aromatic curing agent, 1,4‐bis(1‐hydroxypropargyl)benzene (BHPB), were synthesized as dipolarophile curing agent. Together with networks prepared under the triazole curing system, the networks under dual curing systems, which consist of an isocyanate curing agent and a dipolarophile curing agent, were prepared. Through swelling experiments, solubility parameters and crosslinking densities of the triazole crosslinked networks were determined by using Gee’s theory and Flory–Rhener theory. The mechanical properties of the triazole crosslinked networks were also investigated with different contents of the dipolarophile curing agent, along with the type of dipolarophile curing agent. The networks prepared under the triazole curing system did not show good mechanical properties. However, GAP‐based networks prepared under a dual curing system showed excellent mechanical properties with only a small amount of dipolarophile curing agent used. The effects of BPS and BHPB on the mechanical properties of the networks were much more distinguishable in networks prepared under a dual curing system rather than a single curing system.     

叠氮黏合剂非异氰酸酯固化技术进展

随着新型绿色含能材料ADN应用,叠氮黏合剂非异氰酸酯固化技术逐渐引起国内外推进剂研究人员重视。从固化机理、固化剂种类、叠氮黏合剂非异氰酸酯固化技术应用及新型叠氮黏合剂/固化剂研制等方面对该技术进行了综述。     

Characterization of the Plasticized GAP/PEG and GAP/PCL Block Copolyurethane Binder Matrices and its Propellants

Though glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) is a well‐known and promising energetic polymer, propellants based on it suffer from poor mechanical and low‐temperature properties. To overcome these problems, plasticized GAP‐based copolymeric binders were prepared and investigated through the incorporation of flexible‐structural polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polycaprolactone (PCL) into a binder recipe under a Desmodur N‐100 polyisocyanate (N‐100)/isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) (2 : 1, wt. ratio) mixed curative system. The nitrate esters (NEs) or GAP oligomer were used as energetic plasticizers at various ratios to the polymers. The GAP/PCL binders held the plasticizers much more than the GAP/PEG binders did. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of segmented copolymeric binders were more dependent on the plasticizer level than the PEG or PCL content. The increase in the plasticizer content decreased the mechanical strength and modulus of binders, while the change of strain was modest. Finally, the NE plasticized GAP‐based solid propellants showed enhanced mechanical and thermal properties by the incorporation of PEG or PCL. The properties of GAP/PCL propellants were superior to those of GAP/PEG propellants.     

Studies on structure property correlation of cross‐linked glycidyl azide polymer

Glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) has been evaluated for use as binder for solid propellants. The effects of various parameters like cross‐linking conditions, concentration of crosslinker, and the ratio of isocyanate to hydroxyl functional groups (NCO/OH ratio) on the mechanical properties were studied in detail. It was observed that the type of curing agent and the NCO/OH ratio have a strong influence on the gum‐stock properties. Similar impact was seen for cross‐linker concentration also. The swelling characteristics of the cross‐linked binder prepared with different NCO/OH ratios were evaluated with toluene and tetrahydrofuran (THF). The polarity and the solubility parameter of the solvents were found to influence the swelling of GAP. The NCO/OH ratio and cross‐linker concentration of the polymer were also found to affect the swelling characteristics. The sol fraction determined for the polymer was found to follow a similar pattern. The cross‐link density and average molecular weight between crosslinks (Mc) were determined from the swelling studies and also from the stress–strain relationship. The Mc values were found to be influenced by the NCO/OH ratio. Finally, the Mc values determined from the swelling data were correlated to the gum‐stock properties, and the model parameters were estimated. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Reactive Energetic Plasticizers for Energetic Polyurethane Binders Prepared via Simultaneous Huisgen Azide‐Alkyne Cycloaddition and Polyurethane Reaction

Reactive energetic plasticizers (REPs) for use in glycidyl azido polymer (GAP) based polyurethane (PU) energetic binders were investigated. These REPs consisted of an activated terminal alkyne group that was expected to give rise to Huisgen azide‐alkyne 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition within the specific pot life for a PU formulation to prevent the migration of plasticizers, and with a gem‐dinitro group as an energy resource. A quantitative miscibility investigation between the plasticizers and uncured GAP showed that REPs exhibited better miscibility than conventional energetic plasticizers. The plasticization effect of the REPs on the GAP prepolymer with respect to the reduction of the viscosity illustrated REPs can effectively reduce the viscosity of the GAP prepolymer from 6,015 cP to 150–240 cP at the processing temperature when 50 wt‐% of REP was added. A comparison of the click reactivity and activation energies (E_a) of REPs and GAP prepolymer elucidated that the reactivity of azide‐alkyne cycloaddition depended on the dipolarophilicity of REPs which could be controlled by adjusting the length of methylene spacer between electron‐withdrawing groups (EWG) and neighboring alkynes in REPs. Thermogravimetric analysis manifested REP/GAP‐based PU binders maintained the thermal stability of the control GAP‐based PU binder. The mechanical properties and impact insensitivity of the GAP‐based PU binders were also improved by the incorporation of REPs.     

Compounding of Glycidyl Azide Polymer with Nitrocellulose and its Influence on the Properties of Propellants

Currently formulated propellants comprise RDX and polymeric binders, such as hydroxy‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and cellulose‐acetate butyrate (CAB) as well as the energetic substances glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) and nitrocellulose (NC). Propellants based on GAP are often brittle if they are formulated with a high content of cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) and due to the usually insufficient mechanical properties of GAP. On the other hand formulations based on RDX and NC may exceed the tolerable burning temperature with increasing RDX concentration. Therefore, in this study propellants with a high force and with relatively low burning temperature has been formulated by using a compound of NC and GAP as energetic binder. According to thermodynamic calculations GAP/NC composite propellants can be formulated with up to 15 percent more specific energy than seminitramines at the same burning temperature. By choosing appropriate polymerization conditions chemical stable compositions can be produced. ARC experiments give evidence that at temperatures from 120°C to 160°C the binder decomposes similar to NC. At higher temperatures the behaviour switches from NC type to GAP type decomposition. In comparison to GAP bound propellants the compressive strength of propellants bound by the GAP/NC compound can be significantly increased by up to 420 percent at room temperature. Although the examined seminitramine propellants bound with NC show a compressive strength which is about 10 percent higher at room temperature, the GAP/NC compositions are quite superior at elevated temperature.     

Preliminary Characterization of Propellants Based on p(GA/BAMO) and pAMMO Binders

In previous papers, the synthesis and characterization of OH‐terminated glycidyl azide‐r‐(3,3‐bis(azidomethyl)oxetane) copolymers (GA/BAMO) and poly‐3‐azidomethyl‐3‐methyl oxetane (pAMMO) by azidation of their respective polymeric substrates were described. The main objective was the preparation of amorphous azido‐polymers, as substitutes of hydroxy‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) in new formulations of energetic propellants. Here, the subsequent characterization of both the binders is presented. First of all, several isocyanates were checked in order to optimize the curing reaction, and then two small‐scale formulations of a propellant, based on aluminium and ammonium perchlorate, were prepared and characterized. Finally, the mechanical properties and burning rate were compared to those of a similar propellant based on HTPB as binder.     

Structure and mechanical properties of novel composites based on glycidyl azide polymer and propargyl‐terminated polybutadiene as potential binder of solid propellant

Instead of the traditional isocyanate curing system as the binder of solid propellant, a triazole curing system has been developed by the reaction of azide group and alkynyl group due to a predominant advantage of avoiding to the interference of humidity. In this work, the propargyl‐terminated polybutadiene (PTPB) was blended with glycidyl azide polymers (GAPs) to produce new composites under the catalysis of cuprous chloride at ambient temperature. The triazole‐crosslinked network structure was regulated by changing the molar ratio of azide group in GAP versus alkynyl group in PTPB, and hence various crosslinked densities together with the composition changes of GAP versus PTPB cooperatively determined the mechanical properties of the resultant composites. Furthermore, the formed triazole‐crosslinked network derived from the azide group in GAP and alkynyl group in PTPB resulted in the slight increase of glass transition temperatures and a‐transition temperatures, and improved the miscibility between GAP and PTPB. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40007.     

GAP黏合剂胶片力学性能的影响因素

应用静态拉伸、动态力学和核磁交联密度仪等方法研究了增塑剂正丁基硝氧乙基硝胺(BuNENA)、固化剂多异氰酸酯(N-100)和甲苯二异氰酸酯(TDI)、交联剂三羟甲基丙烷(TMP)、扩链剂1,4-丁二醇(BDO)对改性聚叠氮缩水甘油醚(GAP)黏合剂胶片力学性能的影响。结果表明,增塑比(Pl/Po)由0.6增至1.6,GAP黏合剂胶片的拉伸强度由0.22MPa降至0.06MPa,交联密度由6.7×10-5 mol/mL降至4.9×10-5 mol/mL,延伸率略有提升。调节N-100/TDI双固化体系,可提高GAP黏合剂胶片的强度和延伸率,当N-100和TDI的固化参数分别为0.36、1.44时,胶片强度和延伸率分别为0.24MPa和558.7%。加入质量分数0.5%的交联剂TMP可使GAP黏合剂胶片强度升至0.32MPa,延伸率降至278.5%。加入质量分数0.1%的扩链剂BDO,可使胶片强度和延伸率分别达到0.33MPa和323.1%。     

Thermal characterization of glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) and GAP‐based binders for composite propellants

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to investigate the thermal behavior of glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) and GAP‐based binders, which are of potential interest for the development of high‐performance energetic propellants. The glass transition temperature (T_g) and decomposition temperature (T_d) of pure GAP were found to be −45 and 242°C, respectively. The energy released during decomposition (ΔH_d) was measured as 485 cal/g. The effect of the heating rate on these properties was also investigated. Then, to decrease its T_g, GAP was mixed with the plasticizers dioctiladipate (DOA) and bis‐2,2‐dinitropropyl acetal formal (BDNPA/F). The thermal characterization results showed that BDNPA/F is a suitable plasticiser for GAP‐based propellants. Later, GAP was crosslinked by using the curing agent triisocyanate N‐100 and a curing catalyst dibuthyltin dilaurate (DBTDL). The thermal characterization showed that crosslinking increases the T_g and decreases the T_d of GAP. The T_g of cured GAP was decreased to sufficiently low temperatures (−45°C) by using BDNPA/F. The decomposition reaction‐rate constants were calculated. It can be concluded that the binder developed by using GAP/N‐100/BDNPA/F/DBTDL may meet the requirements of the properties that makes it useful for future propellant formulations. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 538–546, 2000     

Thermomechanical and Morphological Characteristics of Cross‐Linked GAP and GAP–HTPB Networks with Different Diisocyanates

This paper describes the mechanical and thermal characterisation of cross‐linked glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) and GAP–hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) networks. Cross‐linked GAP and GAP–HTPB networks were prepared by reacting GAP diol and GAP–HTPB diol mixture with different diisocyanates. The physical and mechanical characteristics were found to be influenced by the type of isocyanate curing agents, [NCO]/[OH] equivalent ratios and concentration of GAP. For all the three types of curing agents, GAP–HTPB blends of 50 : 50 to 30 : 70 ratios show higher mechanical strength over the virgin networks of GAP or HTPB. Thermal decomposition of cross‐linked GAP–HTPB networks was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The kinetic parameters for the decomposition of GAP–HTPB blends were found to be dependant on the concentration of GAP and HTPB in the blend. The cross‐linked GAP–HTPB blends were subjected to dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The glass transition characteristics of the blends were evaluated by DMA and it was found that blends prepared with GAP content up to 30% showed single transition in the loss tangent trace indicating no phase separation in the cured network.     

Glycidyl Azide Polymer Crosslinked Through Triazoles by Click Chemistry: Curing,Mechanical and Thermal Properties

Glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) was cured through “click chemistry” by reaction of the azide group with bispropargyl succinate (BPS) through a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction to form 1,2,3‐triazole network. The properties of GAP‐based triazole networks are compared with the urethane cured GAP‐systems. The glass transition temperature (T_g), tensile strength, and modulus of the system increased with crosslink density, controlled by the azide to propargyl ratio. The triazole incorporation has a higher T_g in comparison to the GAP‐urethane system (T_g−20 °C) and the networks exhibit biphasic transitions at 61 and 88 °C. The triazole curing was studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and the related kinetic parameters were helpful for predicting the cure profile at a given temperature. Density functional theory (DFT)‐based theoretical calculations implied marginal preference for 1,5‐addition over 1,4‐addition for the cycloaddition between azide and propargyl group. Thermogravimetic analysis (TG) showed better thermal stability for the GAP‐triazole and the mechanism of decomposition was elucidated using pyrolysis GC‐MS studies. The higher heat of exothermic decomposition of triazole adduct (418 kJ ⋅ mol⁻¹) against that of azide (317 kJ ⋅ mol⁻¹) and better mechanical properties of the GAP‐triazole renders it a better propellant binder than the GAP‐urethane system.     

GAP型PU/PMMA聚合物互穿网络的力学性能研究

利用互穿聚合物网络技术 (IPN)对GAP粘合剂进行了力学性能改性 ,研究了组分比、引发剂用量、催化剂用量、固化参数、交联剂用量对以GAP为基体材料的PU/PMMA型IPN力学性能的影响 ;同时用动态力学谱 (DMA)分析了不同组分比下IPN的相容性     

Glycidyl Azide‐Butadiene Block Copolymers: Synthesis from the Homopolymers and a Chain Extender

Glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) is an “energetic” alternative to hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), but has poorer mechanical properties. Since HTPB‐GAP mechanical blends are markedly biphasic, the use of block copolymers may be the solution to join the advantages of both. The copolymers were synthesized from the homopolymers by using two chain extenders: hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and adipoyl chloride (AdCl). Both reagents gave homogeneous and stable polymeric mixtures, but with HDI there are risks of gelation during reaction. Therefore, the product obtained with AdCl is the best candidate to be used as binder or as compatibilizer in GAP‐HTPB mechanical blends.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Thermal Properties of Poly(glycidyl azide‐r‐3‐azidotetrahydrofuran) as Azido Binder for Solid Rocket Propellants

Azido polymers have been investigated as energetic binders in the area of solid rocket propellants. However, the low temperature mechanical properties of them are not comparable with the traditional propellant binders. In this work, a new kind of azido binder named poly (glycidyl azide‐r‐3‐azidotetrahydrofuran) (PGAAT) was successfully synthesized. The molecular structures of monomers and copolymers were characterized. The sensitivity and thermal properties of the azido binder were studied. The cationic copolymerization of 3‐methylsulfonyloxytetrahydrofuran with ternary cyclic ethers was confirmed. The PGAAT azido binder exhibited attractive features like low glass transition temperature (T_g, −60 °C) and high energy (1798 J/g). The results indicate that the polymer is a suitable candidate binder for the solid rocket propellants.