Non-energetic binders

These binders may be classified into two classes inert or non-energetic binders and energetic binders. 

Calalyst (Slannous octoate with trielhylene diamine) 

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has developed three new polymeric binders for use in solid composite propellants and some salient features of these binders are  

It is cured with isocyanates like TDI/MDI and trihydroxy compound such as trimethylol propane (TMP) is often served to tailor mechanical properties. The binder can take different solids loading and Isp is =247 s at =87% loading. 

ISRO polyol is considered to be a substitute for HTPB binder and propellants based on it are used in sounding rockets (RH-300). Such propellants are also considered as candidate propellants [94] for the booster stages of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The easy availability of castor oil coupled with its low cost makes ISRO polyol more attractive compared with current binders [95] like PBAN, CTPB and HTPB. 

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One disadvantage of the polymer-bonded explosives of the first generation, is that the non-energetic binder (polymer) and plasticizer lessened the performance. To overcome this problem energetic binders and plasticizers have been developed. The most prominent examples for energetic binders are (Fig. 1.5, a) ... 

BAMO is perhaps the most prominent among the azido oxetanes class in terms of the number of polymers and copolymers reported so far. Due to its symmetrical azido groups, it assumes special significance as a hard block repeating unit in a thermoplastic elastomer. However, the homopolymer is solid and cannot be used directly for binder applications because of its crystal-tine nature. Also, poly(BAMO) shows relatively poor mechanical properties as a binder for solid rocket propellants [153]. Many copolymers of BAMO with non-energetic co-monomers tike tetrahydrofuran (THF) have been reported. The BAMO-THF copolymer is an excellent candidate for binder applications with its energetic BAMO content coupled with the THF block which affords... 

Most explosives which are used by the military are solids under normal conditions and are usually obtained as granules on a technical scale. These granules are then mixed with other explosives and energetic (e.g. binder, plastiziser) or non-energetic additives (anti-oxidants, wetters, wax) and made into their final form using one of the following technical processes ... 

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