Interpenetrating Polymer Networks as Binders for Solid Composite Propellants

S. Parthiban; B.N. Ragunandan; Sampat R. Jain

doi:10.14429/dsj.42.4374

S. Parthiban Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
B.N. Ragunandan Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Sampat R. Jain Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.42.4374

Keywords: Poly methyl methacrylate, Burning rates

Abstract

A new family of polymeric binders for solid composite propellants is proposed, based on two component interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). These networks comprise two different polyurethanes based on hydroxy terminated polybutadiene and ISRO polyol interpenetrated with two different vinyl polymers, viz poly methyl methacrylate and polystyrene. the networks synthesized by the simultaneous interpenetrating technique have been characterized for their properties, such as stress-strain, density, viscosity, thermal degradation, and heat of combustion. Phase morphologies have been determined using electron microscopy. Suitable explanations have been adduced to rationalize the properties of IPNs in terms of their structures and chain interactions. A study of the mechanical properties and burning rates of the ammonium perchlorate (AP)-based solid propellant using the newly synthesised IPNs as binders, has been carried out. The results show that both mechanical strength and burning rate of solid propellants could be suitably modified by simply changing the nature and/or the ratio of the two interpenetrating polymer components.

Author Biographies

S. Parthiban, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Mr S Parthiba n o bta ined his MSc in Po lyme r Che rnistrv from Madras Unive rsity in 1989. 'He completed his MSc (Engg ) in Aerospace Enginee ring from IISc , Bangalore, in 1991. He is a recipient of Dr MD Karkhanavala Memorial Award ( 1991) of the India n Thermal Analysis
Society . He is currently working for his PhD at IISc. Bangalore .

B.N. Ragunandan, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Prof BN Raghunandan has be en o n th e Fac ulty of Ae rospace Engineering at IISc since 1976.He obtained his BTech (Aero Engg) from IIT , Bombay, in ! lJ71 and PhD (Aerospace Engg) from IISc , Bangalore . in 1976. He has specia lised in combustio n and propulsion . He is a
recipi ent of a n International Fellowship from Japan . and the IIP Silver Jubilee Prize . awarded for his contribution in IX NCICEC.

Sampat R. Jain, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Prof Sampat R Jain o btai ned his MSc in Chemist ry from Pilan i in 1900 and PhD in Inorganic & Physical Chemistry from IISc, Bangalore, in 1965. He is a Professor in the Department of Ae ros pace Enginee ring, IISc. He did his postdoctoral re search at the University of Florida ,
USA and Lakehead University, C nada , during 1965-70, work ing on non-met al chemistry; , NMR and FIR spectrosco by . His current research interests include pre- ignition phenomen a in hypergo lic propellan ts; fast the rmolysis of ene rge tic materials, and synthesis of hydrazin c-based fuels and polymers . He has over 90 research papers to his credit.