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Application of azide-containing molecules as modifiers of HTPB

Synthesis and evaluation of properties

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Abstract

Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) has been widely modified and copolymerized with azide substances to be applicable as an elastomer binder in a composite solid propellant (CSP). This research presents a systematic evaluation of the HTPB chemical modification performed with two types of azide-containing molecules such as ethylene glycol bis-(azidoacetate) (EGBAA) and octyl-1-azide. The chemical modification of HTPB was carried out through the bulk reaction between the HTPB double bonds and azide pendant groups. The synthesis was performed by measuring gas evolution in a pressure–vacuum stability device. Through size exclusion chromatography and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, the molar mass and the formation of carbon–nitrogen bonds were evaluated, respectively. Elemental analysis detected nitrogen in the modified HTPB. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed changes in the glass transition temperature (Tg). The final products were dependent on the type of azide molecules. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that HTPB modified with EGBAA presented higher thermal stability. Solid and viscous elastomers were achieved with modification by EGBAA and octyl azide, respectively. Both are potentially suitable for use as binders in CSP.

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Abbreviations

ATR/FTIR:

Attenuated total reflection with FTIR

CSP:

Composite solid propellant

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimetry

E a :

Activation energy

EGBAA:

Ethylene glycol bis-(azidoacetate)

Form:

Formulation

FTIR:

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

GE:

Gas evolution

GPC:

Gel permeation chromatography

HTPB:

Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene

k GE :

Reaction rate constant of gas evolution

OAz:

Octyl-1-azide or azido n-octane

P-VST:

Pressure transducer vacuum stability test

SEC:

Size exclusion chromatography

STANAG:

Standardization agreement (used in NATO)

THF:

Tetrahydrofuran

TG:

Thermogravimetric analysis

Z :

Pre-exponential factor in Arrhenius equation

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)—Instituto de Macromoléculas Professora Eloisa Mano (IMA), the Instituto de Pesquisas da Marinha (IPqM—Brazil) and the Fraunhofer Institut für Chemische Technologie (Pfinztal, Gemany) for supporting the development of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Macromoléculas Professora Eloisa Mano, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CT. Bloco J, 21941-598, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Maurício Ferrapontoff Lemos & Luis Claudio Mendes

  2. Instituto de Pesquisas da Marinha - IPqM, 21931-095, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Maurício Ferrapontoff Lemos

  3. Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, 76318, Pfinztal, Germany

    Manfred Bohn & Thomas Keicher

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  1. Maurício Ferrapontoff Lemos
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Correspondence to Luis Claudio Mendes.

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Lemos, M.F., Mendes, L.C., Bohn, M. et al. Application of azide-containing molecules as modifiers of HTPB. J Therm Anal Calorim 137, 411–419 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-7968-2

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