Analysis of glycidyl nitrate polymerization reaction

Abstract

Poly(glycidyl nitrate) (PGN) is a high-energetic polymer whose properties are determined by the presence of an –ONO2 explosophoric group. PGN can be obtained by polymerization of glycidyl nitrate (GN) monomers. The preferred polymerization route is via the activated monomer mechanism, due to its two main advantages: narrow molecular mass distribution of the obtained polymer and ability to control the heat generated during the reaction. The study allowed the GN monomer to be obtained as a product of nitration of epichlorohydrin. A series of GN polymerization reactions was conducted under different conditions (temperature, time and reactant amounts). The analysis showed that the lower the catalyst to initiator ratio, the higher the molecular mass of the obtained polymer (PGN). A temperature between 0-10 °C is the optimum temperature for GN polymerization. The longer the GN polymerization time the higher the molecular mass of the PGN. The GN polymerization reaction was scaled up without affecting the molecular mass or other properties of the obtained polymers. The following tests were carried out to determine the basic properties of PGN: GPC, 1H NMR, FTIR, DSC, TG, calorific value, viscosity, sensitivity to friction and impact.