US 4,483,978 AGranted

Energetic copolymers and method of making same

AssigneeS R I International

InventorGerald E. Manser

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Energetic copolymers having repeating mer units derived from different monomers, one or both of which have pendant energetic groups such as azido, nitro or nitrato groups. Copolymers have improved formulating characteristics compared to homopolymers of the energetic monomers; e.g., they are less crystalline or less viscous. Preferably the monomers are cyclic oxides having three to six atoms in the ring. The energetic monomers are preferably azido, nitro or nitrato derivatives of oxetane or THF. Copolymerization is preferably carried out by cationic polymerization using an adduct of the preinitiator precursor (e.g., 1,4-butane diol) and a catalyst suitable for cationic polymerization (e.g., boron trifluoride etherate) which is employed in stoichiometric proportion to the monomers and a low molecular weight, low polydispersity copolymer results. Certain novel monomers also are provided.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of forming an energetic polymer having pendant energetic groups which comprises:

(a) providing a Monomer I which is a cyclic oxide containing two to five carbon atoms in the oxide ring, said Monomer I, when homopolymerized, resulting in a polymer which is crystalline or viscous at temperatures normally used in formulations, said energeric group being one which decomposes without combustion at a temperature of about 180.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. to release a gas under pressure
(b) providing also a Monomer II which is a cyclic oxide containing two to five carbon atoms in the oxide ring and which differs from Monomer I and is copolymerizable with Monomer I to produce a copolymer which is less crystalline or viscous than the homopolymer of Monomer I and
(c) copolymerizing Monomers I and II in proportions such that the resulting copolymer has a substantially diminished crystallinity or viscosity compared to the homopolymer of Monomer I, said copolymerization being a cationic polymerization initiated by an adduct of a preinitiator precursor and a catalyst effective for cationic polymerization, and wherein such adduct and Monomers I and II are employed in proportions of one mol of adduct to n mols of I and II combined, n being a small number and the proportion of adduct greatly exceeding that required as a catalyst, the polymerization being allowed to go to completion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/379,354Filed 18 May 1982 · continuation in part
Priority: 12 May 1981
Granted: 20 Nov 1984
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

C08G 65/2645
Characterised by the catalyst used: metals or compounds thereof, e.g. salts
C07D 305/06
Having no double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members: with only hydrogen atoms, hydrocarbon or substituted…
C07D 307/14
With substituted hydrocarbon radicals attached to ring carbon atoms: radicals substituted by nitrogen atoms not forming part of a nitro radical
C08G 65/16
Cyclic ethers having no atoms other than carbon and hydrogen outside the ring: cyclic ethers having four or more ring atoms