Method for making stable cured poly(glycidyl nitrate)

Abstract

A process is provided in which at least one polyol having a hydroxyl functionality of at least three, preferably four, serves as a polymerization initiator. The polyol initiator is optionally, although preferably, reacted with a catalyst to form a catalyst-initiator complex, which is then used in the polymerization of glycidyl nitrate. The resulting polyfunctional poly(glycidyl nitrate) has a functionality substantially equivalent in number to the hydroxyl functionality of the polyol. The poly(glycidyl nitrate) is cross-linked with at least one aromatic diisocyanate having at least one aromatic ring and two isocyanate moieties bonded directly to the at least one aromatic ring. Examples of the aromatic diisocyanate include toluene diisocyanate, phenylene diisocyanate, and/or methylene di-p-phenylene diisocyanate.

1 . A cast cure explosive comprising between about 5 weight percent and about 20 weight percent of poly(glycidyl nitrate) binder, between about 0.5 weight percent and about 3 weight percent of at least one aromatic diisocyanate curative, and between about 20 weight percent and about 80 weight percent of at least one oxidizer.  
     
     
         2 . The cast cure explosive of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aromatic diisocyanate curative is selected from the group consisting of toluene diisocyanate, phenylene diisocyanate, and methylene di-p-phenylene isocyanate.  
     
     
         3 . The cast cure explosive of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one oxidizer comprises ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, or at least one mixture thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A minimum smoke propellant comprising between about 4 weight percent and about 30 weight percent poly(glycidyl nitrate) binder, between about 0.5 weight percent and about 3 weight percent of at least one aromatic diisocyanate curative, between about 0 weight percent and about 80 weight percent of at least one solid oxidizer, between about 0 weight percent and about 50 weight percent of at least one energetic solid filler, and between about 0 weight percent and about 30 weight percent of at least one plasticizer.  
     
     
         5 . The minimum smoke propellant of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one aromatic diisocyanate curative is selected from the group consisting of toluene diisocyanate, phenylene diisocyanate, and methylene di-p-phenylene isocyanate.  
     
     
         6 . The minimum smoke propellant of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one solid oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, hydroxylammonium nitrate, ammonium dinitramide, hydrazinium nitroformate, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The minimum smoke propellant of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dioctyladipate, isodecylperlargonate, dioctylphthalate, dioctylmaleate, dibutylphthalate, oleyl nitrile, bis(2,2-dinitropropyl)acetal/bis(2,2-dinitropropyl)formal, diglycerol tetranitrate, trimethylolethanetrinitrate, triethyleneglycoldinitrate, diethyleneglycoldinitrate, nitroglycerin, butanetrioltrinitrate, alkyl nitratoethylnitramines, and mixtures thereof.