HTPB Polymer Improvement.
Abstract
The ARCO Chemical Company has developed a free radical process for producing a hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) POLYMER. The product, which is being marketed under the tradename 'poly bd' resin, is attractive costwise for solid propellant binder application. This program was to determine whether modifications of the existing process would produce material superior to the commercial product in high performance propellant application. To explore this, ARCO prepared a series of experimental polymers representative of the range of process variables that can be enacted. These HTPB prepolymers ranged in molecular weight, from 1800 to 6000, and in functionality, from 2 to 2.7. Evaluated by Lockheed Propulsion Company in 86-90% solids loaded propellants, none of these experimental polymers proved to be decisively superior to the standard commercial product (R-45M) as judged by propellant processibility, uniaxial tensile properties and analog motor temperature cycling tests. The failure to produce superior mechanical properties, notably of the polymers approaching di-functionality at a molecular weight of 3000-4000, is attributed to the presence of several kinds of hydroxyl groups, and resultant polymer-to-polymer differences in the reaction with curative and bonding agent. (Author-PL)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0760579
Entities
People
- G. E. Myers
- W. E. Baumgartner
Organizations
- Lockheed Propulsion Company