THERMOANALYTICAL LIFE TIME TESTING OF ENERGETIC POLY(GLYCIDYL AZIDE) AND ITS PRECURSOR, POLY(EPICHLORODYDRIN)

The life time analysis of energetic liquid prepolymers, polyglycidyl a zide (PGA), and its precursor, polyepichlorohydrin (PECH), was carried out to estimate their useful storage time as a function of storage te mperature using thermoanalytical method. Thermogravimetric Analysis (T GA) was used to determine the decomposition kinetics of prepolymers. F or this purpose, Thermal Gravimetry (TG) curves of prepolymers were re corded at different heating rates and their kinetic activation energie s were determined. The kinetic activation energy of PGA and PECH were found to be 120 and 167 kJ/mole, respectively. For the life time estim ation, the 5% weight-loss was selected as constant failure criterion f or the prepolyemers. These data were further used for the determinatio n of the change in their useful storage time at different storage temp eratures.