The development of energetic binders with suitable energetic plasticizers is required to enhance the mechanical properties and to reduce the glass transition temperature of propellant and explosive formulations. The compatibility of the energetic binder poly(3‐nitratomethyl‐3‐methyloxetane) (polyNIMMO) with five different energetic plasticizers viz. bis(2,2‐dinitro propyl)acetal (BDNPA), dinitro‐diaza‐alkanes (DNDA‐57), 1,2,4‐butanetriol trinitrate (BTTN), N‐N‐butyl‐N‘(2‐nitroxy‐ethyl) nitramine (BuNENA) and diethyleneglycoldinitrate (DEGDN) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheology, and DFT methods. The results obtained for the pure binder were compared with the results obtained for the binder/plasticizer blend in regard of the decomposition temperature and the format of the peak indicated the compatibility of polyNIMMO with the plasticizers. The glass transition temperatures of the blends were determined by low temperature DSC and showed desirable lowering of glass transition temperature with single peak. The rheological evaluation revealed that the viscosity of the binder is considerably lowered by means of flow behavior upon addition of 20 % (w/w) plasticizer. The addition of BuNENA and DEGDN has maximum effect on the lowering of viscosity of polyNIMMO. The predicted relative trend of interaction energies between plasticizer and binder is well correlated with the corresponding trend of viscosity of binder/plasticizer blends. These experimental studies verified by theoretical methods are valuable to design practical blends of new plasticizers and binders.

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Glycidyl Azide Polymer (GAP) is one of the most potential energetic binders for rocket propellants and gas generator compositions. In the present paper GAP of molecular weight (Mn) ~2000 was cured with a mixture of di-and tri-isocyanates without a cross linker. The curing profile and time of curing was recorded using a rheometer. The minimum curing time was observed for samples cured with Desmodour N-100 alone, whereas the maximum curing time was observed for samples cured with a mixture of Desmodour N-100 and Isophorone Diisocyanate (IPDI) (1:1 w/w). It was observed that all of the samples cured well and were void or bubble free. The mechanical properties data showed that the tensile strength (TS) of GAP cured with Desmodour N-100 alone was 1.19 kgf/cm 2 , which is a minimum, while the maximum TS (3.66 kgf/cm 2 ) was achieved with a mixture of N-100 and 4,4'methylenebis(phenylisocynate) (MDI). The percent elongation for a sample cured with Desmodour N-100 was 160, and was reduced to 64.27 when a mixture of MDI and N-100 was used. In order to study the curing of GAP without an isocyanate, GAP diol was cured with hexanediol di-acrylate. GAP was also cured with an alkyne-based curing agent i.e. bis-propargyl succinate (BPS), which showed improved curing. Comparative thermal studies of GAP cured with isocyanate and acrylate was carried out. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA) curves for all of the cured samples were recorded in order to study and compare the thermal decomposition behaviour of the cured GAP. Isocyanate cured GAP exhibited a single stage decomposition, with larger heat output. Acrylate cured GAP exhibited a two stage decomposition. Finally, a mixture of IPDI and Desmodour N-100 was selected for curing of GAP. Accordingly, curing was carried out and was tested in a small ballistic evaluation motor (BEM) to observe the combustion behaviour and burn rate. From the pressure-time profile it was Central European Journal of Energetic Materials

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