Determination of Glass Transition Temperature of Double-base Rocket Propellants with the Use of Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

Abstract

The paper presents results of Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) of double-base (DB) solid rocket propellant with special attention paid to determining the glass transition temperature. The presented experiments were carried out with the use of Netzsch DMA 242C analyzer with the dual cantilever operation mode. Advantages and drawbacks of the DMA method, measured values, as well as important characteristics of solid double-base rocket propellants were briefly described. Obtained values of the storage modulus E', the loss modulus E, and tanδ were represented in dependence on temperature. The glass transition temperature of the tested propellant was determined according to NATO standard 4540 [7] at the peak of the loss modulus curve.