Understanding the Compatibility of the Energetic Binder PolyNIMMO with Energetic Plasticizers: Experimental and DFT Studies

Abstract

The development of energetic binders with suitable energetic plasticizers is required to enhance the mechanical properties and to reduce the glass transition temperature of propellant and explosive formulations. The compatibility of the energetic binder poly(3‐nitratomethyl‐3‐methyloxetane) (polyNIMMO) with five different energetic plasticizers viz. bis(2,2‐dinitro propyl)acetal (BDNPA), dinitro‐diaza‐alkanes (DNDA‐57), 1,2,4‐butanetriol trinitrate (BTTN), N‐N‐butyl‐N‘(2‐nitroxy‐ethyl) nitramine (BuNENA) and diethyleneglycoldinitrate (DEGDN) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheology, and DFT methods. The results obtained for the pure binder were compared with the results obtained for the binder/plasticizer blend in regard of the decomposition temperature and the format of the peak indicated the compatibility of polyNIMMO with the plasticizers. The glass transition temperatures of the blends were determined by low temperature DSC and showed desirable lowering of glass transition temperature with single peak. The rheological evaluation revealed that the viscosity of the binder is considerably lowered by means of flow behavior upon addition of 20 % (w/w) plasticizer. The addition of BuNENA and DEGDN has maximum effect on the lowering of viscosity of polyNIMMO. The predicted relative trend of interaction energies between plasticizer and binder is well correlated with the corresponding trend of viscosity of binder/plasticizer blends. These experimental studies verified by theoretical methods are valuable to design practical blends of new plasticizers and binders.

Reactive Plasticizers Covalently Linked to Glycidyl Azide Polymer via Catalyst‐Free Huisgen Azide‐Alkyne Cycloaddition

“…As shown in Figure 3, reactive energetic plasticizer (BNPB) could reduce the GAP pre-polymer viscosity more effectively, as compared to the reactive neutral plasticizer (BEHB). This indicated that REP could be more efficient than the conventional plasticizer during processability [26].…”

“…According to the literature, the click reaction between the polymer and RPs could be done in the catalyst-free condition [26][27][28][29]. So, we examined the catalyst-free synthesis of GAP/RPs (Scheme 2).…”

Thermal and Rheological Properties of PGN, PNIMMO and P(GN/NIMMO) Synthesized via Mesylate Precursors

“…The heat of explosion of PGN was calculated as 2661 kJ/kg, which was higher than that of PNIMMO (818 kJ/kg) and glycidyl azide polymer (2500 kJ/kg) [1]. PNIMMO is a promising energetic binder for insensitive munitions and has been investigated [1,[3][4][5].…”

Synthesis, Characterization and Compatibility Studies of Poly(DFAMO/NIMMO) with Propellant and PBXs Ingredients

“…In addition, the DSC method can provide compatibility results that are similar to vacuum stability test results for the same combinations [14]. Various works have been done on the compatibility of oxetane-based energetic polymers with contacted materials by the DSC method [15][16][17][18]. In order to achieve at a better understanding of the relationship between the structure and reactivity of these oxetane-based difluoroamino polymers, this paper focuses on the synthesis, characterization and compatibility of PDN with some ingredients which are commonly used in propellants and PBXs, using the DSC method.…”