Pyrolysis studies of polymeric materials used as binders in composite propellants: A review

Abstract

A review is presented of pyrolysis studies of polymeric materials (with the emphasis on polybutadiene-type polymers) which are used as binders in composite propellants. Where possible, the polymer pyrolysis characteristics are discussed in terms of their relevance to combustion studies of propellants containing these (or similar) polymers as binders. It is shown that binders should receive more attention in any study on composite propellant combustion-both physical and chemical properties may be important, although there is no way as yet to decide beforehand which one plays the larger role. Classical thermoanalytical techniques using bulk heating and low heat rates (fluxes) to study pyrolysis are shown to produce kinetic data which are dependent on heat rate and sample mass, and which are of doubtful relevance to studies of rocket propellant combustion where pyrolysis is linear and heat fluxes are very large.