Polyethylene Glycol Propargyl Ethers Based Curing Agents for Glycidyl Azide Polymer

Three polyethylene glycol propargyl ethers (PGPEs), namely 4,7,10-trioxatrideca-1,12-diyne (TOTDY), 4,7,10,13-tetraoxahexadeca-1,15-diyne (TOHDY) and 4,7,10,13,16-pentaoxanonadeca-1,18-diyne (TONDY) were designed and successfully synthesized as curing agents for glycidyl azide polymer (GAP). Their structures were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis, and their glass transition temperatures (Tg) were measured by DSC. The films of GAP cured by the title compounds were prepared via 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition, and then the influences of PGPEs on the Tg, decomposition temperature (Td) and mechanical properties of the films were studied accordingly. The results showed that the Tg of GAP cured by TOTDY and TOHDY were-38.1 oC and-38.2 oC, respectively. The Td of GAP cured by PGPEs was in the range of 235.5 oC - 241.0 oC. The results of tensile tests showed that the maximum stress of GAP films cured with PGPEs were in the range of 0.11 MPa to 0.52 MPa at elongation from 29% to 48%. These results indicated that PGPEs would have potential application in GAP based high energy solid propellant formulations.