COMPATIBILITY OF AMMONIUM DINITRAMIDE WITH POLYMERIC BINDERS STUDIED BY THERMOANALYTICAL METHODS

The compatibility of ammonium dinitramide (ADN) with energetic and inert binders was studied in order to detect any interaction between these materials. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) methods according to STANAG No. 4147 were used for the compatibility test measurements. Glycidyl azide polymer (GAP), a copolymer of GAP and poly(bis(azidomethyl)oxetane) (GAP-PBAMO (80:20)) were used as energetic binders, while hydroxylterminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and polyethylene glycol (PEG1500) were used as inert binders. Both TGA and DSC analyses results of ADN with GAP, GAP-PBAMO, and HTPB showed that these mixtures are highly compatible. TGA measurements on the compatibility of ADN with PEG1500 showed that these were incompatible, while DSC measurements indicated a small degree of incompatibility. The compatibility of the ADN-PEG1500 admixture was further probed by kinetic analyses, and the activation energy and rate constants were determined for the reaction. A detailed discussion and a comparison of the compatibility results from all the methods are made.