High energy binders: glycidyl azide and allyl azide polymer

Hydroxy-terminated azido polymers such as poly(glycidyl azide), poly bis(azidomethyl oxetane) and poly(azidomethyl methyloxetane) have been investigated in the past in propellent formulations and as fuels in rocket technology. The high energy released upon the decomposition of the azido group is responsible for their specialized application as high-energy binders. The present paper describes the synthesis and characterization of new low molecular mass azido polymer i.e. poly(allyl azide). The curing reaction was carried out by using 1,3-cyclic dipolar addition reaction. The dipolarophiles, such as dimethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and addition polyimides (bismaleimides, bisnadimides and bisitaconimides) were used for curing of azido polymers. The curing reaction was monitored by FT-IR and differential scanning calorimetry. Curing was carried out at 40°C for 16 h (EGDMA) or 2 days (bismaleimide) and then at 60°C by using different phr of dipolarophiles. The heat of exothermic transition, due to decomposition of azide groups and thermal polymerization of addition polyimides, was very high and an improvement in thermal stability of cured resins was observed.