Controlled pyrolysis of the new energetic binder azide polyester PAP-G†

The degradation mechanism of the azide polyester PAP-G (poly-2,2-bis(azidomethyl)-1,3-propandiol-glutarate) on controlled pyrolysis differs from that of the polyether GAP (glycidyl azide polymer). The decomposition is more intensive, involves more of the carbon backbone and occurs at lower temperatures. As an energetic component in a propellant it tends to disintegrate at an early stage giving off cabonaceous material of the polymer structural backbone. Mixed metal oxides in the doped binder samples affect neither the reaction enthalpy nor the reaction products. However, they accelerate the nitrene formation by shifting the reaction interval to lower temperatures. Shifts up to 20 K were observed. In the case of PAP-G the effect is most expressed by the additive MOVO whereas for GAP, in opposite, copper chromite is most effective.