"Process to Manufacture Carboxy-Terminated Polubutadiene (CTPB)"

This project will produce a commercial process for the manufacture of carboxy terminated polybutadiene (CTPB) polymer for use as a binder in ANB-3066 and other solid rocket propellants systems. Phase I objective is to produce laboratory quantities of CTPB which meet the Phillip Petroleum Company specifications for Butarez (R) CTL Type II Polymer, closely represents the Butarez Structure and Physical Properties, and meets the procurement standards of Aerojet specification ASPC-24242. The chemical and physical properties that are controlled with this specification are molecular weight, water content, acid content, viscosity, volatiles, refractive index, antioxident, ash, unsaturation type, viscosity ratio, and carbon tetrachloride insolubles. The intent of this project is to qualify this polymer in subscale propellant qualification tables with a propellant manufacturer during Phase II and build a commercial CTPB unit in conjunction with a chemical manufacturing partner during Phase III.Presently there is only one producer of CTPB polymer that is qualified to be used in the binder of ANB-3066 propellant. The chemical and physical properties of the CTPB are critical in producing the binder and must meet the standards of Aerojet specification ASPC-34242. Although several polymerization initiator methods have been used to produce CTPB polymer, only anionic initiated polymer can meet the critical specifications. The objective of this research is to develop an anionic initiated process for preparing CTPB polymer which meets the Aerojet specifcations. Another objective is to develop a process which can meet all current environmental regulations.