High Energy Binders for Solid Rocket Motors

ORBITEC and SRI propose to develop high-energy binders to replace conventional binders commonly used in solid propellants. The proposed binders will enjoy higher enthalpy, higher density, greater tolerance for impurities while curing, and greater range of compatibility with other propellant ingredients compared to the conventional binders, such as hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene. The use of the proposed high-energy binders will produce solid propellants with higher energy and energy density, acceptable hazards, and desirable mechanical and processing properties. In Phase I, physical properties and performance of the specific identified binders will be measured or determined using modeling approaches to provide data for ranking the candidate binders. Initial synthesis of selected binders will begin in Phase I. Plans for Phase II characterization and synthesis scale-up will also be developed.