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.