Novel Energetic Polymers

Energetic polymers find use in a myriad of military and commercial applications. Among the most commonly used formulations are the nitrate esters, which have reasonably high energy densities. However, the inherent instability of nitrate esters requires formulations to include stabilizers. Unfortunately, under the harsh storage conditions frequently experienced by many military systems, the current stabilizers used in nitrate esters are consumed too quickly, and the propellants become prematurely unsafe. Regular monitoring of stabilizer concentration is necessary to ensure the safety of our troops. We propose to synthesize novel energetic polymers containing only the environmentally friendly elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. These new polymers will be flexible, non-crystalline, and robust with a high energy content and densities greater than 1.25 g/cm3. The polymers will also be fabricated to be insensitive to mechanical stimuli such as impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge.