Flash pyrolysis of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB). 1: Analysis and implications of the gaseous products

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Combustion and Flame

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-2180(96)00253-2· OSTI ID:264398

Arisawa, H; Brill, T B ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

HTPB (hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene) is the most widely used polymeric binder/fuel in solid rocket propellants. Knowledge about the gaseous products and their rates of formation from pyrolysis of HTPB is needed to describe the fuel component of the diffusion flamelets of a composite solid propellant in terms of detailed chemistry. Flash pyrolysis of structurally different HTPB was conducted at 600 C/s to constant temperatures in the 450--609 C range under 2 and 11 atm of applied pressure. T-Jump/FTIR spectroscopy was used. With chemometric procedures based on the entire mid-IR spectrum, 13 gaseous products representing at least 70% of the polymer were identified and quantified. Contrary to previous indications that butadiene and 4-vinyl-l-cyclohexene dominate, the trans-butadiene oligomers are major products. These oligomers are probably responsible for smoke formation. The product concentrations are sensitive to the temperature below 500--530 C and 2 atm Ar, but are relatively insensitive to the temperature above 500--530 C.

• OSTI ID: 264398
• Journal Information: Combustion and Flame, Journal Name: Combustion and Flame Journal Issue: 1-2 Vol. 106; ISSN CBFMAO; ISSN 0010-2180
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
BUTADIENE
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
COMBUSTION KINETICS
CYCLOALKENES
DIENES
FLASH HEATING
INFRARED RADIATION
ISOMERS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PROPELLANTS
PYROLYSIS
ROCKET ENGINES