Thermal stability and kinetic of decomposition of nitrated HTPB.

Nitrated HTPB (NHTPB) is a potential energetic binder to replace the conventional inert binder, HTPB, for the composite solid propellants and plastic bonded explosives (PBXs). The thermal stability of the NHTPB sample with 10% double bonds converted to dinitrate ester group (10% NHTPB) was evaluated by high-pressure differential scanning calorimeter (PDSC) measurement. The influences of pressure (0.1, 2.5 and 5.0 MPa) and the heating rate (4, 6, 8 and 10 degrees C min(-1)) on the DSC behavior of the 10% NHTPB sample were investigated. The decomposition temperature of this compound decreased with the increase of pressure, meanwhile, increased as the heating rate increasing. The thermal decomposition at 150-250 degrees C followed a first-order law. The kinetic parameters and thermodynamic parameters for the 10% NHTPB sample at 150-250 degrees C under ambient pressure were obtained from the DSC data by non-isothermal methods proposed by ASTM E698 and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa. The critical temperature for this compound was estimated at about 154 degrees C.