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Fabrication and properties of glycidyl azide polymer-modified nitrocellulose spherical powders

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Abstract

Glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) is a promising candidate for energetic binders in future solid propellants with minimum smoke signature, reduced pollution and low sensitivity. A series of GAP-modified nitrocellulose (NC) spherical powders were prepared by an internal solution method, and its properties have been studied. SEM characterization showed that the GAP-modified NC spherical powders exhibited high roundness rate, excellent fluidity and the favorable uniformity of its corresponding propellant. XRD analyses and DSC test indicated that GAP and NC molecular chain segment had a certain degree of compatibility, and GAP molecular had desirable plasticizing effect on NC. TG–FTIR–MS coupled method revealed that GAP-modified NC spherical powders had three decomposition stages, corresponding to the decompositions of O–NO2 groups, –N3 groups and the main chains of NC and GAP, respectively. The onset decomposition temperature of GAP-modified NC spherical powders was 5.67 °C higher than that of pure NC spherical powders, which was very important for its safety performance. The NO2, CO2 and NO were detected from the gas products of first decomposition stage, while CO, H2CO2, CH4, HCN and NH3 were identified from the gas products of second decomposition stage. Finally, CO and CO2 were produced from the third decomposition stage. The thermal decomposition process of GAP-modified NC spherical powders was presented.

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Abbreviations

GAP:

Glycidyl azide polymer

DINA:

Dinitroxyethylnitramine

P(EO–THF):

Copolyether of ethylene oxide and tetrahydrofuran

NC:

Nitrocellulose

NG:

Nitroglycerin

RDX:

Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine

CARBON:

Carbon black

N100:

Triisocyanate

TPB:

Triphenylbismuthine

C2:

Centralite II

TG:

Thermal gravimetric analysis

DTG:

Differential thermogravimetry

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimetry

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

TG–FTIR–MS:

Thermogravimetric analysis/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy/mass spectrometry

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural National Science Foundation of China (51603156) and Wuhan Institute of Technology Scientific Research Foundation of China (k201406). And the authors also appreciate the Natural National Science Foundation of China (51373126).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Yanguang Wu, Zhuangcheng Yi, Feipeng Du & Si Chen

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, People’s Republic of China

    Yunjun Luo & Zhen Ge

  3. Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Jian Sun

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  1. Yanguang Wu
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  2. Zhuangcheng Yi
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  4. Zhen Ge
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  6. Si Chen
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Correspondence to Yanguang Wu or Yunjun Luo.

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Wu, Y., Yi, Z., Luo, Y. et al. Fabrication and properties of glycidyl azide polymer-modified nitrocellulose spherical powders. J Therm Anal Calorim 129, 1555–1562 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-017-6387-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-017-6387-0

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