Pyrolysis of Composite Propellant Fuel Binders

Abstract

Over the temperature range examined (350 to 475 deg C) polyether-polyurethane rubbers gasify more readily than polyisobutene which, in turn, gasifies at a faster rate than polyester-polyurethane rubbers. Prepolymers gasify at a slower rate than the corresponding polyurethane rubbers. At 350 deg C all of the polymers examined give first order reactions but increasing the temperature to 475 deg C produces deviation from first order behavior. There is evidence that at the higher temperatures free-radical breakdown is responsible for the rapid rate of gas production. Polyisobutene gives a high monomer yield at lower temperatures but at 475 deg C methane and ethylene are also formed. The polyurethane rubbers produce acetaldehyde, methane, ethylene, and carbon monoxide; the polyethers, in addition, give propylene and the polyesters carbon dioxide. Not all of the polymer pyrolysed can be accounted for by these simple gases; the other products probably consist of a mixture of higher molecular weight hydrocarbons.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 12, 1965
Accession Number
AD0467495

Entities

People

  • B. C. Howard

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acyclic Hydrocarbons
  • Alkenes
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Composite Materials
  • Composite Propellants
  • Dielectric Gases
  • Ethylenes
  • Free Radicals
  • Gases
  • Government (Foreign)
  • Governments
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • Polyurethanes

Readers

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.