Synthesis and properties of random co-polymer poly-(GA/BAMO) as energetic binder

Random copolymer with monomer units from glycidyl azide (GA) and 3,3-bisazidomethyloxetane (BAMO) has been synthesized to produce a material for potential application as energetic binder for solid rocket propellant. The former synthesized halogen precursor copolymer epichlorohydrin/3,3-bis-bromomethyloxetane (ECH/BBrMO) has been converted to an energetic polymer via azidation reaction with NaN3. The introduction of poly-BAMO units in the GAP chain has the advantage of an increasing number in azide groups and consequently in the energetic content of the material, but to a limited value that preserves the amorphous morphology of the polymer. The synthesis has been up-scaled to 1.1 kg quantity and the resulting polymer has been characterized via IR-spectroscopy, thermal analysis (DSC, TGA, Tg), impact sensitivity, end group analysis, molecular mass measurement (GPC), density, viscosity, heat of combustion and elemental analysis. This study has been done under the EDA project "Formulation and Production of New Energetic Materials" (FPNEM) PA No B-0585-GEM2-GC.