CA1062847A - Solid propellants containing polyether or polyester binders - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Novel cross-linked elastomer derivatives of hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin are provided herein. They may be prepared by a single stage or a two stage procedure involving reacting a particularly recited hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin, namely, polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene or polypropylene, each having hy-droxyl end groups, a particularly recited acid anhydride, namely succinic an-hydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylgletaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride or 1,2-cis-cyclohexanedicarboxylic an-hydride, and a particularly recited epoxide, namely a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol, an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol, 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylates, bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexyl-methyl) adipate, N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenylglycidyl ether.
the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid, or condensation products of epichloro-hydrin and bisphenol-A in the presence of a metallic salt as catalyst or a metallic coordination compound. Propellants are also provided containing up to 88% of solid ammonium perchlorate in the powder form and aluminum powder and the cross-linked elastomer derivative of such hydroxyl terminates poly-olefin as a binders. The physical and mechanical properties from these pro-pellants depended on the ratios and on the order of addition of each ingredi-ent, the curing temperatures and the presence of surface-active agents.

Description

1~6'~847 This invention relates to novel cross-linked elastomer derivatives, a hydroxy-terminated polyolefins, to processes for the preparation thereof, and to solid rocket propellants using such elastomers as binders.
In the prior art, composite solid propellants having superior mechanical properties and good stability at high temperatures were obtained by cross-linking carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene with epoxides.
Polybutadiene propellants have been provided which have used, as a binder, an eilastomer formed from a heretofore known carboxyl-terminated homo-, co-, or terpolymer of polybutadiene and a curing system which involves aziridines or epoxides either alone or in combina-tion. Thus curing system with which carboxyl groups of the polybutadiene react to produce amide links when tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl)-phosphine oxide is the cross-linking agent or ester links when polyepoxides are the cross-linking agent, requires a curing time up to one week. In addit on to~the long period of cure which is necessary to obtain propel-lants of fair quality the aziridine has many drawbacks as it is toxic~has a tendency to degrade when subjected to prolonged heating, high rela-tive humidity or hot conditons and it also tends to post cure, thus increasing the modulus of the binder and as such the propellants. It was found moreover, that, while the ester formed by the action of the epoxide group on the terminal carboxyl groups gave a binder having great stability, good mechanical properties at low temperatures, the elimination of the aziridines (which favoured adhesion of the binder with particles of a~monium perchlorate) resulted in a propellant having a short life.
It was then found that the addition of surface active agents to the poly-ester binders permitted the improvement of the mechanical properties atlow temperatures of the propellants. Furthermore, while some of the drawbacks may be partially removed by the addition of the butylene imine -1- ~ ~

1062E~47 derivative of trimesic acid, these lmines are also unstable to heat and humidity, especially butylene imlne derivative of trimesic acid which decomposes at 0C. and further the imines are hazardous materials as they produce dermatitis on contact with the skin. Finally, the oxidizer = onium perchlorate which is incorporated into the binder to form the rocket propellant may also react exothermically with aziridines leading to fires if the ammonium perchlroate is not properly wetted with other ingredients of the binder. These prepolymers are very viscous and thus do not permit incorporation of a percentage of solids more than 85%.
Attempts have therefore been made to substitute the tris(2-methyl-l-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide epoxide curing system in the binders for the propellants and one such attempt has been the production of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, by the living polymer synthesis followed by treatment thereof with ethylene oxide, alcohols or water.
These hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene are usually cured with isocyan-ates in the presence of different catalysts. However some of these hydroxyl-terminated polybutadienes may exhibit a reactivity with isocyan-ate which is too high for propellant use, having inter alia a short pot life for certain applications.
Another attempt to replace the tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphiné oxide epoxide curing system involves the use of the outstanding properties of the carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene such as, for example, that supplied under the Trade Mark HC 434 by Thiokol Chemical Corporation which has a high percentage of cis-structure (32%). This carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene was reduced with lithium hydride into hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene for curing with isocyanates; the gelation time with 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate was, however, 3 hours at 80F. which was considered to be much too short to be useful in the production of binders in propellant manufacture. This fast cure was attributed to the presence of primary terminal hydroxyl groups in the hydroxyl-terminated polybuta-diene and moreover the purification process of the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene was difficult as it left 0.15% residual solids which ~06Z847 interfered in the curing reaction, The rapid cure of the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with hexamethylene diisocyanate gave a gelation time of six hours at 27C which is twice that obtained with 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate which was not completely satisfactory. An improved hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene has, however, been obtained from the carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene in which the terminal hydroxyl groups are secondary hydroxyl groups.
However, it has been found that such carboxyl-terminated poly-butadiene (e.g. those prepared in the presence of free radical initiators and known by the Trade Marks of "HC 434" of Thiokol Chemical Corporation, "Syntitico" of Synthetico Rubber Company of Japan and '~YCAR-CT" of B.F.
Goodrich Chemical Company) contain measurable quantities of peroxides and glutaric acid. These have been found to impart poor oxygen stability to the polymers. On the other hand, such prepolymers prepared by ionic reactions (e.g. those known by the Trade Marks of "Telagen CT" of General Tire Rubber Co. and "Butarez CTL" of Phillips Petroleum Co.) do not have good stability. In addition such prepolymers in general have a high viscosity (250-450 poises, 25-45 Ns/m2).
Other carboxyl-terminated saturated prepolymers which have been proposed are those known by the Trade Marks of "UTREZ" of United Tech-nology Center, "ZL-635" of Thiokol Chemical Corporation, and "Telagen SCT"
of General Tire and Rubber Company. These have, however, been found to be unsuitable, since they are very viscous. Furthermore, they do not provide products which possess good mechanical properties at 1~ tempera-tures.
Some binders have been obtained from commercially available carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HC 434) after cross-linking with epoxides. Examples of suitable epoxides are those known by the Trade Marks of "Epon 812" (derivative of triglycidyl glycerol) and "Epon 828"
of Shell Company, of "DER 732" (diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol) of the Dow Chemical Company, or "ERL 4221" (3,4 epoxycyclohexyl-methyl 3',4'-epoxy cyclohexane carboxylate and "ERLA 0510" (N,N-digly-l~Z847 cidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether) of Union Carbide Co. M~ny of the commercially available epoxides provided polyester binders which are only usable with difficulty to obtain propellants having high proportions of solids, because of the high viscosity of the prepolymers. When tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide is deleted from the formula-tion it is usually necessary to add surface active agents in order to improve the mechanical properties at low temperatures. In addition there is an increased curing time and a decreasing of the elongation during the course of the accelerated aging of the propellant.
la As noted above, it has been proposed to cross-link the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with isocyanates in order to obtain polyurethanes.
Isocyanates which have usually been used in the binders for solid propel-lants are 2,4-toluene diisocyanate and the polymeric diisocyanate (DDl) made by General Mills Chemical Inc.
Examples of such polyurethane binders which are more frequently used commercially are those having as prepolymer the products known by the Trade Marks of "Telagen HT" of General Tire and Rubber Company, "Butarez HTS" of Phillips Petroleum Co. and "R45M" (hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene) of Arco Chemical Co. Because of its low cost and its low viscosity R45M is the product most frequently used. All the prepolymers give polyurethane binders whose stability at high temperatures are probably less than that of polyester binders.
Another form of binder that is disclosed in Canadian Patent No.
891,562 issued January 25, 1972, namely an hydroxy telechelic polymer which is the reaction product of a carboxyl telechelic polymer and a mono epoxy compound.
The term "telechelic polymer" as set forth in United States Patent No. 3,281,335 issued October 25, 1966 to C.A. Wentz and F.E. Hopper as well as an article by the same authors entitled "Process for the Pro-duction and Purification of Carboxy Telechelic Polymers" defines polymerswhich are produced by polymerization of vinylidene containing monomers having reactive groups at each end of the polymer molecule. The above l~Z847 identified patent provides hydroxy telechelic polybutadienes desirably rich in cis-isomer, obtained by the reaction of a mono-epoxy compound and the corresponding carboxy polymers. The term "hydroxyl-terminated"
as used herein means having hydroxyl groups, including primary and secondary hydroxyl groups attached ad;acent the ends of the polymer molecule and preferably at the ends of the molecule. The mono-epoxy compound may be any organic compound containing a single epoxy grouping including mono-epoxy resins; particularly preferred however are epoxy compounds of the formula:

R - C - C - R' wherein each of R and R' is hydrogen, aryl, or an alkyl, preferably a lower alkyl group. Particularly there may be mentioned 1,2-alkylene - oxides such as, for example, propylene oxide and 1,2-butylene oxide which produce secondary hydroxyl groups when reacted with the carboxyl tele-chelic polymer.
A typical molecule of the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene rich in cis-i60mer according to the aforesaid patent prepared by the reaction of the large molar excess of propylene oxide with the carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene rich in cis-isomer supplied under the Trade Mark HC 434 which has a molecular weight of 3,800 is believed to be as follows:
'O O
Il 11 Ho-cH-cH2-o-c-(cH2-cH=cHcH2)x-(cH2lcH)y-c-ocE2-clH-oH

The above-identified patent also provided an elastomeric binder for use in forming a castable propellant comprising (a) a hydroxyl-telechelic polymer, particularly a hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene rich in cis-isomer, which is the reaction product of a carboxyl telechelic polymer, particularly a carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene rich cis-isomer, and a mono-epoxide particularly a 1,2-alkylene oxide such as, for example, propylene oxide and 1,2-butylene oxide and (b) a tri-isocyanate or (c) a diisocyanate such as, for example, tolylene diisocyanate together with a triol cross-linking agent, with a tri-isocyanate cross-linking inherently occurs to form the binder. The above-identif'ied patent also included a solid polybutadiene propellant comprising such elastomeric binder, finely divided ammonium or potassium perchlorate and finely divided-aluminum.
However, presently available binders derived from hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and diisocyanate or carboxyl-terminated poly-butadiene and epoxide-tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide curing agents suffer the disadvantage that they have weak stabil1ty with respect to oxidizing agents.
The present invention in one of its aspects is now based on the discovery of the production of cross-linked elastomer binders from hydroxyl-; terminated polybutadiene. One such hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene is known by the Trade Mark of R45M. Thus the present invention in one of its broad aspects contemplates the utilization of the advantages of hydroxyl-terminated polyolefins as a prepolymer. Such advantages include its low viscosity and its very low cost. In addition the use of such prepolymer would eliminate the presence of the polyurethane or phosphine oxide groups which spparently are responsible for the instability of the binder.
By one aspect of this invention, a process is provided for the pre-paration of cross-linked elastomer derivatives of an hydroxyl-terminated poly-olefin, comprising (a) the two stage process of reacting an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, each having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedi-carboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and 1,2-cis-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride, and then reacting the carboxyl-derivative ~06Z847 so formed with an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl gly-cerol; 3,4-epoxycylclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenylglycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebaclc acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, in the presence of a metallic salt as cata-lyst; or a metallic coordination compound; or (b) the single stage process of reacting an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consist-ing of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, poly-ethylene~ polybutylene and polypropylene~ having hydroxyl end groups, with anacid anhydride selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride~
cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and 1,2-cis-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of poly-oxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-amino-plenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as catalyst, or (c) reacting an hydroxyl-termina-ted polyolefin selected from the group ConsiSting of polybutadiene, polypenta-diene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutybutylene and poly-propylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; and epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adi-pate; N~N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative sf sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A;
and with ammonium perchlorate.

~06Z847 By one prPpared variant thereof9 the process for preparing the cross-linked elastomer comprises (a) reating a hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selec-ted from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene~ polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride, wherein the acid anhydride is selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methyl-glutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride; and then (b) reacting the car-boxylic derivative so formed with an epoxide selected from the group consist-ing of diglycidyl ether of poloxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3~4-epoxycyclohexylmethy1-3~4~-epoxycyclohexane carboxy-late; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensa-tion products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, in the presence of a metal-lic salt catalyst.
By one variation thereof, the reaction in step (a) is carried out in a solvent selected from the group ConsiSting of benzene, toluene, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, dioxane, hexane and cyclohexane.
By another variation, the reaction is carried out in benzene or toluene.
By still other variations, the anhydride is a solid anhydride which is reacted under reflux in a solvent; or the anhydride is a liquid anhydride which is reacted at a temperature of 60-90 C.
By still other variations, the anhydride is selected from succinic anhydride and methylsuccinic anhydride.
By yet another variation, the metallic salt or metal coordination compound catalyst is selected from the group consisting of iron linoleate, iron octoate, iron naphthenate, stannous actoate, chromium diisopropyl salicyl-ate, chromium naphthenate, chromium stearate, chromium acetylacetonate, ~ - 8 -~06Z847 chromium acetate, cupric acetyl acetonate, thorium acetyl acetonateJ vanadium acetyl acetonate, calcium acetyl acetonate, zirconium acetyl acetonate, sodium acetyl acetonate, titanium acetyl acetonate and iron hexafluoro acetyl ace-tonate.
By a further variation, the metallic salt is selected from chromium oleate, chromium acetate and chromium actoate.
By yet another variation, the epoxide is a condensation product of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A.
By a further variation, the acid anhydride is succinic anhydride, the epoxide is 3~4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate, the metallic salt catalyst is chromium oleate, and the hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.
By another variant of this invention, the process for preparing the cross-linked elastomer comprises reacting an hydroxyl-terminated polyole-fin selected from the group ConsiSting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, poly-heptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polypropylene and polybutylene, each having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxy-lic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and 1,2-cis-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and with an epoxide selected from the group ConsiSting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclo-hexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6_methylcyclohexylmethyl)adipate; N,N-d$glycidyl-p-amibophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid;
and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as catalyst.
By a variation thereof, the acid anhydride is selected from 3-methylglutaric anhydride and cis-1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride.

- 8 a -By another variant of this invention, the process for preparing the cross-linked elastomer comprises reacting an anhydroxyl-terminated poly-olefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene~ polypentadiene, polyheptadiene~ polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an epoxide selected from the group consisting of diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'41-epoxycyclohexane car-boxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensa-tion products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A; and with ammonium perchlor-ate.
By a variation thereof, the reaction is effected in the presence of a catalyst selected from chromium oleate and chromium octanonate.
By another variation, the reaction is effected at temperatures in the range of 60 to 125C.
By still another vsriation, the hydroxyl-ter~inated polyolefin is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.
By a still further variation, the epoxide is 3,4-epoxychclohexyl-methyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate.
By another aspect of this invention, a cross-linked elastomer is provided which is selected from (I) the polyether reaction product of an hy-droxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybuta-diene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutyl-ene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups; an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate;
N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A when _ g_ lO~;Z847 carried out in the presence of ammonium perchlorate as a catalyst; snd (II) ~he polyester reaction product of a carboxyl-terminated polyolefin derived from the reaction of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyiso-prene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride, wherein the acid anhydride is selected from the group consist-ing of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic an-hydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglu-taric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and cis-1,2-cyclohexane-dicarboxylic anhydride~ and an epoxide selected from the group consisting ofdiglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of tri-glycodyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxyl-ate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and con-densation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, when carried out in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as a catalyst.
By one variant thereof, the elastomer comprises the polyester reac-tion product of a carboxyl-terminated polyolefin derived from the reaction of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of poly-butadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, poly-butylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhy-dride is selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methyl-Succinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclo-butanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methyl-phthallic anhydride and cis-1,2-cyclohexane-dicarboxylic anhydride, and an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxy-propylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxy-cyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methyl-cyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the ~ _ 9 a -~06Z84'7 epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A~ when carried out in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as a catalyst.
By a variation thereof, the hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin is hydroxyl-t erminated polybutadiene.
By another variation, the anhydride is selected from succinic an-hydride and methylsuccinic anhydride, and wherein the solvent is selected from benzene and toluene.
By still another variation the anhydride is selected from cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride, and 3-methylglutaric anhydride.
By yet another variation, the carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene is prepared by effecting the reacting at temperatures of 60 - 90C.
By another variant, the elastomer comprises the polyester reaction product of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group con-sisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, poly-ethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups; an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxy-propylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycy-clohexymethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclo-hexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A; when carried out in the presence of a~monium perchlorate as the catalyst.
By a variation thereof, the hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.

~ _ 9 b -~06Z847 By another aspect of this invention, a propellant is provided com-prising (i) a cross-linked elastomer selected from: (a) the polyether reaction product of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group ConSiSt-ing of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethyl-ene~ polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups; an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexyl-methyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexyl-methyl) adipate; N~N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy de-rivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin andbisphenol-A; when carried out in the presence of ammonium perchlorate as the catalyst; and (b) the polyester reaction product of a carboxyl-terminated polyolefin derived from the reaction of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, poly-heptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, hav-ing hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride, wherein the acid anhydride is selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedi-carboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and cis-1~2 cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and an epoxide selec-ted from the group ConSiSting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene gly-col; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycylclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylchclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A when carried out in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as a catalyst; (ii) ammonium perchlorate in powder form; and (iii) aluminum powder.
By one variant thereof, the propellant comprises (i) a cross-lin~ed _ 9 c -~06Z847 elastomer comprising the polyether reaction product of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene, and polypropylene~
having hydroxyl end groups; an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a digylycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of tri^
glycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxyl-ate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylchclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-amino-phenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A when carried out in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as a catalyst; (ii) ammon-ium perchlorate in powder form; and (iii) aluminum powder.
By another variant, the propellant comprises (i) the polyester reaction product of a carboxyl-terminated polyolefin derived from the reaction of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, and an acid an-hydride, wherein the acid anhydride is selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric an-hydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and cis-1,2-cyclohexane-dicar-boxylic anhydride and an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; and epoxide derivative of tri-glycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxy-cyclohexylmethyl-3~4~-epoxycyclohexane carboxyl-ate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-amino-phenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, when carried out in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as a catalyst; (ii) ammonium perchlorate, and (iii) aluminum powder.
By a variation thereof, the ammonium perchlorate is a mixture of ~ _ 9 d -particles having sizes of 400 um, 200 um and 17 um, in a weight ratio of 1.7,

2.7, and 1.0~
By a further variation, the aluminum powder has a sperical particle aize of 17 microns.
By yet a further variation, the hydroxl-terminated polyolefin is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.
While the preferred hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin useful in one aspect of this invention is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, other hydroxyl-terminated polyolefins would be useful as well. Other dienes, such as, for example~ pentadiene~ heptadiene~ isoprene, etc.~ each having hydroxyl end groups which are liquid at room temperature would be operative. Thus, hy-droxyl-terminated polyolefins useful in other aspects of this invention in-clude polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, poly-ethylene, polypropylene and polybutylene (each having hydroxyl end groups).
Such other polyolefins having hydroxyl end groups, e.g. polyethylene, poly-butylene or polypropylene yield saturated binders with a slightly higher glass transition temperature, but are also operatlve within the scope of aspects of this invention.

Polyoxypropylene glycol~ polyoxybutylene glycol or other polyoxyalkylene glycols could also be used, but would yield elastomers or propellant with higher glass transition temperatures.
Among the suitable solid and liquid anhydrides operative within aspects of this invention are the following: most sold anhydrides from aromatic or alicycle dicarboxylic acids that are soluble in common solvents are operative, i.e. succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, ~ _ 9 e -benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutane dicar-boxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methyl-phthallic anhydride~ etc., some of them being only sparingly soluble in common solvents. All dianhydrides are excluded and will give rise to cured gumstocks.
The anhydrides that are liquid at the curing temperature (60C) and, relatively, not too expensive, are very limited; 3-methylglutaric anhydride and 1,2 cis-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride are the only ones found available commercially heretofore.
Among the solvents that may be used in aspects of this inven-tion are those solvents that have a boiling range of 60-110C., are inexpensive and inert towards hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene or anydride including in addition to benzene or toluene, methyl and ethyl acetate, dioxane, hexane~ cyclohexane, etc.
Suitable metallic salts useful as catalysts include various salts of iron, tin or chromium. The chromium salts were found more active for the epoxide/hydroxyl or epoxide/carboxyl reaction e.g., chromium oleate, chromium octoate and chromium octenoate. In this list are included the iron salts (linoleate~ octoate, naphthenate), the tin salts (stannous octoate) and the chromium salts (diisopropyl sali-cylatç LDIPS1, naphthenate, stearate and acetylacelonate). In addition,the following are also useful epoxy cure catalusts: chromium acetate, cupric acetyl actonate, thorium acetyl acetonate, vanadium acetyl aceton-ate, calcium acetyl acetonate, zirconium acetyl acetonate, sodium acetyl acetonate, titanium acetyl acetonate, and iron hexafluoro acetyl aceton-ate.

~ _ g f _ ~062847 With respect to one aspect of the present invention, namely with respect to the polyethers, the present invention in one aspect pro-vides for cross-linking an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin, more especial-ly an hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with epoxides. It has been found that the formation of polyethers is much slower than the formation of polyesters, and moreover that it requires a longer curing time. Moreover the use of chromium salts above as catalysts does not yield the elastomer even at a relatively elevated temperature. But, in the presence of both ammonium perchlorate and chromium salts~ however~ the curing of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin, more especially an hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with epoxides forms a polyether product at a temperature of 60C. where the ammonium perchlorate acts as an initiator and the diol reacts with the di-epoxide to give a polyether.
Additional epoxides which are suitable for use in aspects of the present invention are tabulated below:

9 g _ 1~62~3~7 NANE ~UPPLXER ~OLECULAR Ephr EQUIV. f , ~EIGH~ I(~HT .
Epon 801 ~hell C~e~ical 168 Epon 812 ,. 363 0,653153 2,37 ll ~- 3352 815 ll 317 6,4971201,1 1,57 820 ll 324 826 ll 345 828 ll 365 828 ~- 3g56 830 ll 407 871 ll 734 872 ll 1 160 ERL 2774 ~aymor Chemical 4000,5082 196,7 2,03 3794 ll 385 0,5251190,4 2,02 4206 ll 155 1,5166,2 2,34 4221 Bakelite 295 4221 Faymor Chemical 2710,759 132 2,05 EP 201 Bakelite 226 ERL 4289 n 427 0,5220192 2,22 n Faymor Chemical 416 EPOTUF 27-140 Reichold Chemicals 369 EPOTUF 37-151 ll 892 O,282354,6 2,52 Araldite 6010 Ciba Co. Ltd.414 0,4966 201,3 2,05-" RD2 n 241 0,872114,6 2,10 " RD4 n 142 1,26479,0 1,79 " CY-~78 ll 419 0,5496181,9 2,30 " CY-179 ll 265 0,6913144,6 1,83 D.E.R. 331 Dow ChemiGal 375 0,526190 1,97 D.E.R. 732 .. 576 0,322310 1,86 D.E.R. 736 .. 340 0,562178 1,91 D.E.N. 431 n 479 0,571175 2,74 D.E.R. 337 ., 598 0,417240 2,49 D.E.R. 334 n 335 - 0,555180 1,86 D.E.R. 332LC ll 377 0,588 170 2,21 ._ Ephr 2 equivalent per hundred gram of resin f = functional group per lecule Epon 801: Phenyl glycidyl ether Epon 812) 820 Gl-0CH2CH(0Gl)CH2OGl (where Gl 2 glycidyl) 830~ 6 4 ( 3)2 6 4 Gl 871: diglycidyl of dimer acid 872 dimer acid diglycidyl ether of bis-phenol A
3794~ Glo-c6~4-c(ca3~2c6H4-oGi 4206: vinylcyclohexanone dioxide 4221~
4221 ~ 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3l,4~-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate ERL 4289: Bi 8 (3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl~adipate ~ - 10-~062847 EPOTUF 27-140: G10-C H4-C(CH )2-C6H4-OGl EPOTUF 37-151: dibasl6c acid-diglycidyl ether of bis-phenol A
Araldite 6010: Similar to Epon 828 " 538: O-cresol formaldehyde novolacpolyglycidyl derivative RD2: diglycidyl-4-butane diol " RD4: diglycidyl-resorcinol 'l CY-179: cycloaliphatic epoxide D.E.R. 331: similar to EPON 828 DD EE R 7332} diglycidyl ether of polypropyleneglycol D.E.N. 431: epoxy novalac (Novalacs are thermo-plastic phenol-D.E.R. 337~ formaldehyde type resins obtained primarily by the D.E.R. 334~ use of acid, catalysts and excess phenol.) D.E.R. 332LC ~ diglycidyl ether of bis-phenol A

- 10a-~06Z847 The reaction in respect of the cross-linking of the hydroxyl-termina-ted polyolefin with polyepoxides may be represented as follows:

H O CH2R CH20H + CH -CH-R -CH-CH ~ HO CH R CH -O-CH -CH-R -CH-CH
1 ~2 / 2 \ / 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 \ / 2 O O OH O
( 2 1 2 2 ~ 2 1 2)x 3 (1) OH OH

3 0 CH2RlCH20H or _0 CH2-ClH R2~c\ C/H2 OH O

This reaction resulting in the formation of polyethers is usually favoured by the presence of amines, carboxylic acids, water, etc. at slightly higher temperature. In this case ammonium perchlorate acts as a catalyst at a lower temperature (60C.) At higher temperatures (e.g. 100-110C.) ammon-ium perchlorate would initiate and favour the formation of glassy poly-epoxides. At a lower temperature, formation by polyetherification is favoured, as indicated by the determination of the glass transition point of the polyether propellant (-78C.), as measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry.
The present invention contemplates the formation of polyester pro-pellant binders by cross-linking carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene with epoxides. This very slow reaction is accelerated by the use of catalysts, e.g. chromium or other metal salts. The hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene is first transformed into a carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene by a known procedure. This derivative is then cross-linked with epoxides in the presence of, preferably, chromium salts, to form an elastomer (a polyester).

~062847 The invention contemplates, in a further aspect, the formation of polyester binders by means of a cross-linking reaction between hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and a mixture of anhydrides and epoxides. It was found that it was not possible to form a rubbery elasto-mer by the reaction of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with epoxides in the absence of ammonium perchlorate, even in the presence of chromium salts at temperatures varying from 60-125C. However, the addition of certain anhydrides, e.g. those anhydrides of 3-methylglutaric acid and cis-1~2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid produced a binder at 80C. These anhydrides which are liquid at the reaction temperature and which are soluble in the prepolymer, enter into the reaction with the hydroxyl groups of the polybutadiene to form a diacid, which then reacts with the diepoxide to give a polyester according to the following reaction:

O

2 1 2 ~ ~ + CH2-CH-R2c\ / 2 ( 2 1 2 ~ Coo~cH2clH-R2-ciH) 3 (2) OH OH
wherein Rl and R2 are alkyl groups~ and wherein R3 = oCH2RlCH20H~ -OCO ~ COOH or OCH2CIH R2 C\ ~H2 OH O
The above-described reaction of certain anhydrides, in parti-cular the reaction product of cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene is cured with the epoxide; this results in the formation of an elastomer or a propellant at a tempera-ture lower than that at which the ingredients are mixed in a single step.

~06Z847 ~ hus, the present invention in its broad aspect contemplates the production of polyether polyester binders cross-linked in a particular manner with epoxides and is a radical departure from the prior art. In the past, the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene was cross-linked with isocyanates to give a polyurethane binder to be used in propellants and explosive composi-tions. The low viscosity of the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene used, its great commercial availability and its low cost make hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene a preferred reactant. The present invention in one of its aspects uses the marked advantages of this product, particularly its low vis-cosity, to permit the incorporation of a large proportion of solids in thepropellants. The use of the novel curing system using hydroxyl- or carboxyl-terminated polybutadienes as one of the reactants in the process of one aspect of this invention gives a polyether or polyester binder which is more heat-stable than the conventional binders.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an infra red spectra graph with wave length as abscissa and percent transmission as ordinate, in which R45M stands for an hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, and in which CHDA stands for cis-1,2-cyclohexadi-carboxylic anhydride;
Figure 2 is a graph of viscosity as ordinate against time in secondsas abscissa;
Figure 3 is a graph of viscosity as ordinate against time in seconds as abscissa;
Figure 4 is a graph of viscosity as ordinate against time in days as abscissa;

Figure 5 is a graph of variation of molecular weight as ordinate against time in days as abscissa, in which R45M is defined above, A02246 stands for 2~2~-methylen bis(4-methyl-6-tert.-butyl) phenol~ CY179 stands for an epoxide similar to 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl -3',4'-epoxy cyclohexane carboxylate, CrOl stands for chromium oleate, AP stands for ammonium perchlorate, and PBNA stands for N-phenyl-beta-naphthylamine;
Figure 6 is a gel per~ation chromatography curve;
Figures 7-11 are reduced storage spectra of various polyester propellants, in which, in Figure 7 R45M is a defined above, ACHD stand for cis-1~2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride~ ERL 4289 stands for bis(3~4,-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl adepate, and EPON 812 stands for glycidyl~
O-CH2CH-(O-glycidyl)-CH2-0-glycidyl; in which, in Figure 8, R45M is as defined above, AS stands for succinic anhydride, and N8C stands for the reaction product of N-methyl-di-(ethanolamine) and sebasic acid with carboxyl end groups, in which, in Figure 9, R45M, ACHD, and N8C are as defined above, and PEA stands for the reaction product of tris(2-methyl-l-aziridinyl) phoshine oxide with diacid to form aziridene polyesters, in which in Figure 10~ NôC and PEA are as defined above~ ADH2 stands for the condensation product of N-methyl-diethanolamine, 2-hydroxy ethyl-aziridine and sebasic acid, ADH3 stands for the condensation product of dimeric diisocyanade and NAPO stands for tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide;
Figures 12 and 13 are curves of Tan ~ of polyester propellants and various surface acgive agents, in which N8C and PEA are as defined above; and Figure 14 is a graph of the loss modular spectrum of polyester propellants, in which ADH2,ADH3, N8C and PEA are as defined above.
The following are examples and experiments of aspects of this invention, ~ _ 14 -but for ease of disclosure will be uniformly described as "Examples"
Example I
Preparation of the succinic anhydride derivative of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.
(a) A mixture of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (that known by the Trade Nark of R45M by Arco Chemical Co.) in an amount of 1420 g (l.OOeq.)~
succinic anhydride in an amount of lOOg (1.0 mole) and benzene of lSOO cc are heated under reflux conditions for 48 hours. After evaporation of the sol-vent, 1510 g of a product is obtained having an equivalent weight of 1490 from its carboxyl content and a viscosity of 180 poises (18Ns/m2) at 25C.
(b) The same reactants are boiled $n toluene for 24 hours to give a product having an equivalent weight of 1500 and a viscosity of 156 poises ~15.6Ns/m2) at 25C.
ExamPle II
Preparation of the methyl succinic anhydride derivative of hydroxyl-termina-ted polybutadiene.
The same condensation as described above in Experiment was carried out using methyl succinic anhydride instead of succinic anhydride, to provide a product having an equivalent weight of 1534 and viscosity of 185 poises (18.5Ns/m2) at 25C.
Example III
Preparation of the cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride derivative of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.

A mixture of cis-1,2-cyclohexadicarboxylic anhydride in an amount of 154 g (1 eq.)~ and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (that known by the Trade Nark of R45N by Arco Chemical Co.) in an amount of ~ - 14 a -~062847 1420 g (1 eq.) is heated at 90C. for 66 hours. The infrared spectrum of the product which was obtained indicated the disappearance of the hydroxyl and anhydride groups of the mixture and the appearance of carboxyl groups. This is clearly seen in Figure 1 of the drawings. The product had an equivalent weight of 1560 and a viscosity of 374 poises (37.4Ns/m2) at 25C. High viscosity is obtained if the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride is prepared in benzene. The results of Examples I, II and III
are summarized below in Table II.

- 14 b -1062~347 TABLE II
Properties of hydroxyl-termin~ted polybutadiene and carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene Mn Mw n Equiv.
Name Solvent l _ weight VPO GPC GPCN.s/m2 g .

_ R45M __ 4860 3330 46306.9 1420 ~Lot 0061^1~
R45M/SA Benzene 5080 4290 609016.7 1500 R45M/SA Toluene 8480 ~500 645015.7 1500 R45M/SA Benzene 4775 6890 1 18.2 1490 R45~f/ MSABenzene 5250 729018.5 1535 R45M/MSAToluene 4640 664D18.4 1440 R45M/C.Y~.~ 7 '82 424C 6~,0 37........ 1.2C
R45M/CHDABenzene L 333D l ¦ 41.7 135D

R45M - Trade Mark of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene SA - Succinic Anhydride MSA - Methylsuccinic Anhydride CHDA- cis lJ2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride VPO - Vapour Phase Osmometry GPC - Gel Permeation Chromatography Mw ~ Weight Average ~folecular Weight Mn - Number Average Molecular Weight n - Viscosity in Newton x seconde/metre2, N.s/m2 -~ 15 - - -~062847 Example IV
Preparation of polyester binders from succinic anhydride derivative of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and epoxides (reaction Froduct of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadlene and succinic anhydride).
In the following manner polybutadiene having terminal carboxyl groups (reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and succinic anhydride) was cross-linked successively with various epoxides in the presence of chromium oleate as a catalyst. The mixture was placed in an oven at 60C. until it had a constant hardness. The mechanical properties of the binders were measured in the following manner: The measurement of strain, elongation and Youngs Modulus were determined at an ambient temperature (22.8C.) using an Istron (the Trade Mark of Instron Canada Ltd., Model TTC III 4) on rings made with the aid of a punch. The rings had an internal diameter of 3.170 cm, external diameter of 3.797 cm and an average thickness of 0.30 cm. The samples were stretched at a speed of 0.2116 cm/s. The effective length of the test sample was 3.505 cm.
Example V
Preparation of polyester binders from hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, epoxides, and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride.
A mixture of an hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (that known by the Trade Mark of Arco Chemical Corp.), an epoxide and the cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride, were poured into a Teflon (Trade Mark of a polytetrafluoroethylene) mold at 80C. until it had the constant hardness of rubber. After a curing time varying between 7 and 18 days, the mechanical properties were determined according to the method above described.
To form the castable propellant of an aspect of the present invention, the above binder before curing thereof is admixed with finely divided ammonium perchlorate as oxidizer, preferably a mixture of ammonium perchlorate of particle sizes 400 um, 200 um and 17 um in respective weight ratio of 1.7~ 2.7 and 1.0 and finely divided aluminum ~62847 as fuel, preferably of the spherical type having a particle size of 17 microns (aluminum in the powder form of 17/um average diameter size by Alcan). For high temperature applications, the ammonium perchlorate may be substituted by potassium chlorate. The propellants so obtained were made with an 88% solid loading and to facilitate mixing of the binder with the solids to produce the solid propellant with an 88% solid load the binder desirably includes a plasticizer such as, for example, isodecyl pelargonate~ suitably in an amount from 20 to 25%, which lowers the viscosity of the paste formed. A high percentage by weight of the plasticizer usually lowers the tensile strength of the propellant.
Thus, to prepare the castable propellant according to an aspect of the present invention, the binder is in some instances prepared by mixing the novel polyester or polyether with a surface active agent and the mixture is stirred with a 500 g mixer obtained from Atlantic Research Corp.) into a homogeneous paste. Ihe solids, i.e. the finely divided ammonium perchlorate and finely divided aluminum are carefully blended, preferably in an optimum weight ratio of ammonium perchlorate/aluminum/binder of 70/18/12 percent by weight respectively for good mixing of high solid loading. The binder mix-ture was added to the blend of the solid and stirred under vacuum in one pound mixer obtained from (Atlantic Research Corp.). With an 88% solid load, mixing had to be made in the blender at the curing temperature (60C.) to inCreaSe fluidity. When mixing is over, the propellant mix may be poured into Teflon trays (trade mark for a poly-tetrafluoroethylene) and cured at 60C. to constant Shore hardness. The physical properties of the binder and propellant are similar to those of the known tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide-epoxide system and the mechanical properties of the binder system can be much improved especially at low temperature by incorporating a small amount of a wet-106;~:847 ting agent to increase the bonding between the particle solids and theelastomeric binder. Such a wetting agent is a polymer made from N-methyldiethanolamine and an equivalent excess of sebacic acid contain-ing carboxyl end groups of the following structure:
H(C00CH2CH2-N(CH3)-CH2CH2-coo(cH2)8)ncooH and added suitably in an amount from 0.3 to 0.8 percent by weight, which wetting agent is found to be thoroughly compatible with the binder.
The final properties to be obtained in a solid propellant are dependent on the end use of the propellant as examplified in Ind. Eng.
Chem. Vol. 52, pp. 776-780, 1960. Some appllcations require high elon-gation (over 40%) and strength at maximum stress (over 0.55 MPa ~80 psi~
at room temperature).
To assess the properties of the propellant, the mechanical properties of the elastomeric binder according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention were assessed and in particular the conditions of formation of the binder, i.e. the properties of the ingredients; the curing temperature, the time of curing, the concentration of plasticizer and the catalyst level.
Example VI
Preparation of samples of propellants.
Samples of propellants were prepared with ammonium perchlorate (a mixture of particle sizes of 400, 200 171um in the proportions of 1.7~ 2.7~ and 1.0 parts by weight respectively), aluminum (aluminum in the powder form of 17~um average diameter size sold by Alcan), and various other ingredients used in binders~ according to the procedure hereinabove described. The various ingredients are mixed in amounts of 500 g in a - 18 _ 106Z84'7 mixer having vertical helices (Atlantic Research Corp.~ Alexandria, Virginia). To the mixtures of prepolymer and the plasticizer generally containing a surface active agent, aluminum, ammonium perchlorate and fi-nally the cooking agent were added during the course of a period of 3 hours, while mixing constantly at a temperature of 60C. under vacuum. The charge is cooled in a Teflon mold which is also agitated by a vibrator under vacuum. The cooking takes place at a constant temperature in an oven until the hardness of the sample was constant. Test samples of the propellant are then machined according to the JANAF dimensions (i.e.
1.270+0.050 cm thick~ ends 2.540+0.010 cm wide and 2.54+0.05 long with a reduced body 0.952+0.010 cm wide and 7.493+0.010 cm long and having the form of a dogbone and the mechanical properties in traction were determined according to the usual methods. Out of the same blocks of propellants tongues 6.0 cm long by 0.5 cm thickness were cut. These serve as a means to measure the dynamic mechanical properties with the apparatus known as Rheovibron Dynamic Viscoelastomer, Model DDV II (Toyo Measuring Instrument Co.~ Tokyo, Japan). The range of temperatures studied were from -100C. to 0C. The samples were refrigerated at a rate of 1C. to 2C. per minute.
Sinusoidal oscillation of 110 cps (H) were applied to the tongues of the propellants.
The mechanical properties under traction were measured in the following manner. Test samples according to the dimensions specified by JANAF were machined from blocks of propellants. These served to enable the determination of the mechanical properties at 22.8C. and -45.5C. while travelling on a moving apron at a speed of 0.0847 cm/s and at a rate of de-formation of 0.0123s 1. The effective length of the test samples was mea-sured at 8.43 cm. The maximum change and the elongation obtained this way was determined by the curve of tension-extension which enables the calcula-tion of the strain (m) (stress at maximum load, MPa) to maximum elongation (m) (elongation at maximum load, cm/cm). The initial modulus is calculated by the slope at the beginning of the same curve (E, MPa).
Example VII
Polymerization speed of binders obtained by measurin~ viscosity against temperature and catalysts.

Ihe viscosity measurements are made by means of a ROTOVISKO unit (the Trade Mark of viscosity measuring apparatus of Gebruder Haake, Berlin).
The increase in the viscosity of polyester binders (reaction pro-duct of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and sebacic acid with epoxides or hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with anhydrides and epoxides) as a function of the reaction time was measured in the presence of different catalysts, at constant temperatures. It was noted that the initial viscosity of the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and succinic anhydride cured with epoxide is greater than that of the hydroxyl-terminated poly-butadiene-anhydride-epoxide mixture at the same temperature, i.e. 3.6 and 1.6 N s/m2, respectively at 60C. The viscosity of the binder made from the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and succinic anhydride increases more quickly than that of the binder made from the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, cis-1,2-cyclohexane-dicarboxylic anhydride and epoxide mixture~ i.e. 27 and 2.9 Nslm2, respecti-vely, after 8 x 103 seconds at 60C. This is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.
The increase in the viscosity of the polyether binders was deter-mined at 60C. as a function of time. Thie viscosity of the hydroxyl-termina-ted polybutadiene/PBNA/epoxide similar to 3~4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate/chromium oleate mixture increases very slowly to 2.4 Ns/m2 after 1.9 x 106 seconds (22 days). ~here is no gel for~ation after 70 days of reaction (see Figure 4).

~06Z847 Example VIII
Rate of polymerization of binders obtained by measuring the molecular weight by ~el permeation chromatography.

The determination of molecular weights by gel permeation of the different binder mixtures has made it possible to measure the increase in the molecular weight of the product obtained in the reaction time.
The molecular weights M and M were determined by means of the ANA-PREP chromatograph of Waters Associates Inc. at 22.8C. using tetrahydro-furan as a solvent. The four columns contained gels of porosity 7.0 x 105-5 x 10 ~ 1.5 x 10 - 5 x 10 , 700 - 2000 and 80 - 100 A~ respectively. The molecular weights were calculated from the log M curve with CoUntS obtained by using standard p~lystyrenes, corrected for the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene or carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene (Adams, H.E.
and others, "A Cooperative Molecular Weight Distribution Test", J. of Appl. Polym. Sci. 17: pp. 269-282, 1973).
The low increase in viscosity of the polyether binders and the absence of gel formation encouraged the study of the increase in mole-cular weight as a function of time by GPC. The molecular weight of the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/2,2' methylene bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butyl3phenol/epoxide similar to 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxy cyclohexane carboxylate/chromium oleate mixture increases slowly with time at 60C.
This is summarized below in Table III.
I

~ - 21 -TABLE III
Gel Permeation Chromatography Molecular Weights of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene mixtures with time at 60C
in a Stream of Air and Oxy&en Mixtores ~ 60 C w n~w/ n Observations R45M/Air O 6,680 36301.84 R45M/Air 6 77~600 475016.35 Gel after 8 days R45M/2% PBNA/02 30 6,3003680 1.72 Stable R45M/0.01% PBNA/02 4 43,7004730 9.25 Gel after 7 days R45M/2~h Ao2246/02 27 7~8133870 2.02 Stable R45M/crol/o2 O 7,703 38701.98 R45M/CrOl/02 2 32,760 45207.24 Gel after 3 days R45M/cyl79/o2 1.0 22~150 45604.85 Gel after 2 days R45M/Ap/o2 1.0 134~800556024.2 Gel after 2 days R45M/CrOl/CY179/02 l.o 25~5004760 5.37 Gel after 2 days R45M: Trade Mark for hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene PBNA: N-phenyl-beta-naphthylamine A02246: Trade Mark for 2,2~- methylene bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butyl) phenol CrO: chromium oleate CY179: Trade Mark for epoxide similar to 3~4-epoxychclohexylmethyl 3~-

4~epoxycyclohexane carboxylate AP: ammonium perchlorate -21a-The gel time is shorter'and polymeri2ation is quicker in the presence of ammonium perchlorate. The'increase in lecular weight of the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene by gel permeation chromatography was then determined to assess the effect of ammonium perchlorate, on the polymerization as a function of time at 60C.
Firstly, to show the'possible effect of atmospheric oxygen on hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, pure oxygen was circulated in the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene or mixtures containing hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene. It is seen in Table III above that there is a rapid increase in the molecular weight, M , with the heating time at 60C., and a rapid gel formation in the absence of sufficient quantities of anti-oxidant.
When, however, nitrogen was circulated, it was observed that the behaviour of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene varies at 60C.
depending on the compound accompanying the polybutadiene. The hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/PBNA mixture is stable at 60C., but hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene without an anti-oxidant polymerizes slowly and forms a gel after 90 days of reaction. The hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/ammonium perchlorate mixture polymerizes quickly and formq a gel after lQ days at 60C. (see Table III, below, and Figure 5).

'TABLE IV
Gel Permeation Chromatography Molecular Weights of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/ammonium perchlorate Mixtures at 60C. under Nitro~en'with'Time -Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene:90.6 g; ammonium perchlorate, 200~um;
ammonium perchlorate, lO~um in 5 to 3 respective weight ratio: SOg;
temp: 60C.
.
Time Mw Mn Mw/Mn , o 6,680 3630 1.84 162 29,930 S100 5.87 192 46,810 4890 9.57 216 94,750 5210 18.2 235 207,000 5390 38.4 The hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/ammonium perchlorate/
epoxide similar to 3,4 epoxyc~clohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxy cyclohexane carboxylate mixture also forms a gel after 11 days (see Figure 5). If an antioxidant is added (PBNA or 2,2'methylene bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butyl) phenol to the mixtures of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/ammonium perchlorate (see Table V below and Figure 5), hydroxyl-terminated poly-butadiene/ammonium perchlorate/chromium oleate (Figure 6) or hydroxyl~
terminated polybutadiene/chromium oleate (Figure 5), no polymerization occurs at 60C., but the hydroxyl-terminated/PBNA/ammonium perchlorate/
epoxide similar to 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate mixture (see Table VI, below, and Figure 5) polymerizes after 40 days of reaction at that temperature. If a catalyst such as, for example, chromium oleate (see Table VII, below, Figure 5) is added to the last mixtùre, gel formation occurs after eight days of reaction and two condensation products are formed with high molecular weights. The pro-- portion of the higher molecular weight increases with the reaction time by the addition of molecules of polybutadiene units to the primary or-secondary hydroxyl groups until gel is formed (Table VIII Figure 6).
TABLE V
Gel Permeation Chromatography Molecular Weights of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/PBNA/ammonium perchlorate mixture at 60C. under Nitrogen with Time Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene: 49g; PBNA: l.Og; ammonium perchlorate 200 ~um, ammonium perchlorate lOJum in 5 to 3 respective weight ratio: 25g.

Days Mw M MW/Mn . . .
0 6320 3680 1.72 1.75 6940 3830 1.81 2.85 6860 3870 1.77 6.75 6570 3710 1.77 7.80 6690 3880 1.72 8.75 6830 3860 1.77 9.75 6630 3800 1.74 10.80 6780 3730 1.81 23.00 6840 3840 1.78 29.80 6900 3770 1.83 ;21~47 . TABLE VI
, Gel Permeation Chromatography Molecular Weights of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/ammonium perchlorate~
epoxide similar to 3,4 eooxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxy cyclohexane carboxylate Mixture at 60C. under ~itrogen with Time Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene: 43.7g; PsNA: 0.88g; ammonium perchlorate 200 um and ammonium perchlorate 10 um in 5 to 3 respective weight ratio: 25 g;
epoxide similar to:-3,4 epoxycyclnhexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxy-late::5,375 T me ~ _ ~ M~Mn 0 6320 3680 1.72 1.75 6630 3750 1.76 2.85 6520 3780 1.72 6.75 6570 3770 1 74 7,80 6630 3770 1.~6 8.75 6970 3850 1.81 9.75 6870 380~ 1.80 .
10.75 6670 3840 1.74 ~13.75 6860 3990 1.75 16.75 ` 7160 3850 1.~6 23.00 8150 4230 1.92 29.80 12600 4540 2.77 34.80 18260 ' 4900 3.73 106Zi~47 TABLE VII
Gel Permeation Chromatography Molecular Weights of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/ammonium perchlorate/
epoxide similar to 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4~-epoxy cyclohexane carboxylate Mixture at 60C. under Nitrogen with Time Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene: 45.25g; ammonium perchlorate 200 um and ammonium perchlorate 10 um ln 5 to 3 respective weight ratio: 25 g; epoxide similar to 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate:
4.767g.

Days M w/ n 0 7700 3870 1.98 1.758470 3980 2.13 2.857840 3870 2.02 6.7510,570 4150 2.54 7.8012,600 4400 2.86 8.8011,250 4410 2.55 9.8040,400 4850 8.32 10.75200,900 4940 52.8 13.70gel TABLE VIII
~ Gel Permeation Chromatography Molecular Weights of the Reaction Product hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/
epoxide similar to 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate with Time at-60C.
Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene: 64.98g; 2,2' methylene bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butyl)phenol: 1.3g; chromium oleate: 2g; epoxide similar to 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4~-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate: .71g;
= 60C.
Time Mw ; Mn MW/Mn Days 0 7050 4180 1.68 2710080 4290 2.35 3511700 4370 2.67 4813380 4600 2.91 6415190 4620 3.29 8424600 4670 _5.26 In summary, it is seen that, in the absence of an antioxidant, it is possible to polymerize the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene very quickly in the presence of ammonium perchlorate, whereas, in the presence of an antioxidant, both the ammonium perchlorate and the epoxide are both necessary, since the chromium oleate serves only to accelerate the poly-etherification reaction, i.e. the formation of polyether links between the epoxide and the hydroxyl group of the polybutadiene.
The mechanical properties of binders as determined by means of the Instron were used in evaluating the different ingredients, determining the optimum proportions of each ingredient and studying the behaviour of propellants during mixing.
Example IX
Polyester binders from reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybuta-diene and succinic anhydride.
By cooking carboxylated hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/succinic anhydride) with the different epoxides at 60C. in the presence of chromium oleate, it is shown that ERL 4221 (trade mark for 3.4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxyl-ate from Union Carbide Can. Ltd.) or (CY 179 (trade mark for epoxide simi-lar to 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate sold by Ciba Products Co.) or EP (trade mark for an epoxide similar to ERL 4221 sold by Union Carbide Canada Ltd., Belleville, Ontario, equivalent weight:
132 g.) gives one of the best rubbers of all the epoxides studied. The ERL 4289 Ltrade mark for bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate~, which has a similar structure to the ERL 4221, produces a rubber of equiva-lent strength but requires a longer cooking time (see Table IX below).

l~;Z84'7 , s TABLE IX
Composition and Mechanical Properties of Polyester Binders from reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and succinic anhydride and Epoxides Chromiwn oleate: 0.59~ of the binder; Temp. of curing:60C
Ba~ch Epoxide Curing am ~m E ¦ Energy No . time ~ Name Lquiv . ~laysMl~a cm MPa J
_ l ERL 4221 1.0 7 0.481 8.29 0.142 1.71 2 ERL4221 1.2 7 0.449 11.14 0.096 1.88 3 ERL4221 0.95 7 0.349 9.93 0.086 1.45 4 ERL4221 0.90 7 0.251 12.5 0.058 1.16 EPON 812 1.0 7 0.358 4.32 0.165 0.73 6 EPON 812 1.2 7 0.453 2.27 0.307 0.55 7 ERL~ 0510 1.0 7 0.392 3.03 0.190 0.56 8 ERL 4289 1.0 14 0.437 11.4 0.081 1.83 9 DER 732 7 1 - L4 0.295 14.3 O .034 1.33 EPOTUF-37-151 1.17 '14 0.189 6.8 0.042 0.51 . _. . .
ERL 4221: 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate from Union Carbide Can. Ltd.; Equiv. weight: 135 g.
ERL 4289: bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methyl-cyclohexylmetylmethyl) adipate;Equiv. Wt.192g EPON 812: derivative of triglycidyl glycerol from Shell Chemical Co., N.Y.
Equiv. weight: 153g.
ERLA 0510: N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether from Union Carbide Can.
~ Ltd., Equiv. weight: 89g.
DER 732: diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol, Equiv. weight: 310g. POTUF-37-151: epoxy derivative of sebacic acid from Reicholds Chemicals, Inc., Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Equiv. weight: 354 g.

Example X
Polyester bin e s made from a mixture of hyclroxyl-terminated-~oLybutadiene cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and epoxides.
Cooking the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride derivative with the different epoxides at 60C. in the presence of chromium oleate produces binders with mechanical properties similar to those obtained with the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and succinic anhydride derivative.
Example XI
Polyester binders made from a mixture of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene~
cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and epoxides.
Dihydroxylated polybutadiene (hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene) containing PBNA and different epoxides LEP 201, trade mark for an epoxide similar to ERL 4221 sold by Union Carbide Canada Ltd., Belleville, Ontario;
(ERL 4221, trade mark for 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate from Union Carbide Canada Ltd.; CY 179, trade mark for an epoxide similar to 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3',4'-epoxy-cyclohexane carboxylate; or ERL 4289, trade mark for bisr3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl~ adipate,'etc~
in the presence of chromium oleate do not form gel at cooking temperatures as high as 125C. If, however, ammonium perchlorate is added, cooking occurs after eight days at approximately 60 C. Cooking is obtained in the absence of ammoniu~ perchlorate at 80C.~ if cis-1,2-cyclohexane-dicarboxylic anhydride is added to the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/
epoxide/chromium oleate mixture. However, no reaction occurs in the presence of methyldiethanolamine; hydroxyl-2 ethylaziridine, ethyleneimine, trietha-nolamine, methyl-N-morpholine, hydroxylamine, caprolactone, y-valerolactone, methylhydrazine or glutaric anhydride at 100C. By determining the mechanical properties of these binders, it may be seen that they are less resistant than those prepared from the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and succinic anhydride or the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybuta-diene and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride. Cooking is slower and has to be carried out at a higher temperature (see Table X below).

106Z~4~

Compositlon and Mechanical Properties of Polyester Binders from reaction product of hydroxyl-termlnated polybutadiene and ci8-1, 2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and Epoxides Hydroxyl-terminated polybueadiene: 1.0 mole; P.BNA: 2% of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene; cis-1,2-cyclohexanedi~arboxylic anhyaride: 1.0 mole.

. l Batch Epoxides Chromium Curing Vr Gel ~m E ¦ E Energy No _ Oleateremp. i . CY 179 Der 736 cm Moles Moles C _ ~ ,117-cm ~17a _ 11 1.2 0 2.0 100 0.058 65.40.2654.30 0.129 0.38 12 ll 0 ., 80 0.016 48.40.1377.97 0.050 0.35 13 . 0 0 - 80 0.040 61.60.1595.16 0.067 0.27 14 0.5 2.0 80 O.D37 62 00 19 5 31 0.06S 0.32 CY 179: Epoxide similar to 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxy cyclohexane carboxylate Der 736: E~oxide similar to diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol having an equiv. weight of 178 g.
Vr : volume fraction of crosslinked rubber in swollen sample of rubber in benzene .. _ . . . .. .. .. .
- 29 _ lO~;Z8~7 Example XII
Polyester propellants from reaction p~oduct of hydroxyl-terminated poly-butadiene and succinic anhydride.
The mechanical propertieg of polyester propellants containing the reaction p~oduct of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and succinic anhydride binder and epoxides were determined at 22.8 and -45.5C. The energy of the binder tends to grow with the increase in the proportion of epoxide and the cooking time at 60C. The energy of the binder increases from 0.65 to 0.80 after 56 days of aging; the elongation remains constant, but the strain at maximum elongation (~ ~ increases from a.40 to 0.60 MPa. The addition of the reaction product of N-methyl-diethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end groups improves the mecha-nical properties at ambient temperature but does not affect the low elonga-tion observed at -45.5C. (Test No. 21, 24 and 26, Table XI~. The addition of the reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide with diacids (aziridine polyester) improves neither the properties at ambient temperature-(22.8C.), not those observed at -45.5C. (Test No. 26, Table XI).
The use of a mixture of two epoxides, one of which had a long-chain structure (DER 732 (diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol), shows an improvement in the elongation, but does not modify the binder energy. (Table XI).

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~xample XIII
Polyester propellants fro~ precondensed reaction product o hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride.
The mec~anical properties of propellants containing the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride binder are slightly inferior to those of propellants made from the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and succinic anhydr~de. The elongation at low temperature (-45.5C.~ is reduced to half its ambient temperature value. The addition of the surface agents the reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end group8 and the reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl? phosphine oxide with diacids (aziridine polyester) increases the binder energy, but does not improve the low temperature behaviour (see Table XIII below~.

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- ~3 ~ Z~ _ _ _ ~06Z847 Example X~V
Polyester propellants from a ~ixture of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydridé and epoxides.
The mechanical properties of these polyester propellants are given in Table XIV below~ They contain 88~ solids and are prepared from hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, an epoxide similar to 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3~,4~-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate, cis-1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhy-dride and chromium oleate. Their mechanical propertles are slightly inferior to those of the prereacted reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated poly-butadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride polyester propellants, and they require a higher cooking temperature and longer cooking times. The low temperature elongation is also quite low. The addition of the surface agent reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl~ phosphine oxide with diacids (aziridine polyester) improves their mechanical properties at ambient temperature and the energy increases from 0.57 to 0.83 J. Nevertheless, the low temperature properties are as low as thosé of the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and succinic anhydride reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride binders.

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;Z8~7 Example XV
Polyether propellants Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene was cross-linked with the epoxides. The formation of polyether is far slower than that of poly-ester and requires a far higher temperature. The use of chromium salts as catalysts in the absence of perchlorate gives no result at relatively high temperatures. However, in the presence of ammonium perchlorate and chromium salts, cooking of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with the epoxides occurs at a temperature above 60C. In the presence of an initiator, the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene reacts with the di-epoxide to produce the polyether links. Polyether formaticD ls favoured by the presence of amines of carboxylic acids and ammonium perchlorate.
At temperatures between 100 and 110C. in the presence of ammonium per-chlorate, the epoxides are transformed into vitreous, brittle polyepoxides.
At between 60 and 90, however, the polyetherification reaction is favoured and the epoxide reacts with the diol. The glass transformation point (Tg) of the polyether propellant measured by DSC is between -78 and -79C. An initial series of propellants prepared from hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with 2% PBNA in the presence of chromium oleate or octanoate was cooked at between 90 and 110C. The mechanical proper-ties of propellants prepared with decreasing quantities of epoxides at this reaction temperature are very disappointing and are not improved by the additi~n of surface active agents (see Table XV, below). However, by using hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with the addition of a known quantity of antioxidant and assuming that the antioxidant reacts with the epoxide, p~opellants are obtained with energies comparable to that of polyesters. The cooking times at 60C. are very long and, in general, periods of 25 to 60 days are necessary to obtain constant hardness. The use of finer perchlorate would seem to improve the mechanical properties (Tests No. 51 and 45, Table XV, below), that gives a larger solid surface to be covered by the epoxide, provides a better catalysis of the ammonium perchlorate.

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o _ o o b ~ 0 ~! h O
~ 0 ~ _I w :~: .C .
_I ~ ~ C~ ~ H 1~ t~
O C ~ O .. ..
~ X ~ ~ ~ Z ~ ~ ~ o O ~ 'C oo . ~ / ~ Z
~ ' _ _ -- 3~ -- .

1062~347 Example XVI
Mechanical spectra of the propellants, The mechanical spectra determined by ~eans of an oscillatory viscoelastomer on composite propellants were employed to measure the ef~iciency of the surface-agents used in the propellants. The dynamic mechanical properties were measured on the Rheovibron Dynamic Viscoelastomer, Model DDV II, Toyo Measuring Instrument Company, Tokyo, Japan, at tempera-- tures vary$ng between -100C, and 0C. The samples, which measured 6 x 0.5 x 1 cm were cooled at the rate of 1-2Ctmin and subjected to sinusoidal oscillations. These stresses of varying duration applied to composites enabled us to study the phenomenon of unwetting (phase separation~
between the solids and the polymer. It is then possible to connect the quantity of unwetting with the peak height of tan ~, which is equal to the ratio of the ion modulus E", to the storage modulus E'. These peaks arè
observed in the neighbourhood of the glass transition (Tg) temperature.
(Ref: G. Perrault and G. Duchesne, "Evaluation of Surface-Active Additives in Highly Fllled Composites by Mechanical Spectroscopy", J. Appl. Polym.
Sci. 18: pp 1295-1304, 1974~.
Example XVII
Polyester propellants obtained from reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated`
polybutadiene and succinic anhydride and reaction product of hydroxyl-term~nated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride.
The tan~ and E" values of the polyester propellants obtained after carboxylation of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with the anhydrides (succinic anhydride and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride) are given below in Table X~II.

TABLE XVII
Values of E" in Pa x 10-8 and Tan ~ at the Maximum of the Mechanical Absorption Ne,~r Tg of Polyester _ _ Propellants at 110 11z .. , Batch Polyester & rface Active Tan ~ E~ ;
No. Agent _ Name ¦ ~ ~a~. .~m~. Pa x l0-Ei ~ Temp.

33R-SM/SA/CY179 N8C 0.5 0.28 -50 l.lS -65 34., N8C ~.8 0.3D -50 1.10 -65 35.. N8C 1.1 0.29 -50 1.05 -65 62R45M/CHDA/CYl,9 N8C 0.3 0.25 -i5 0.85 -69 67.. PEA 2.4 0.20 -52 0.72 -53 65.. PEA/N8C 0.9/0.2 0.25 -55 0.88 -57 68R45hVCHDA/ERL4289 PEA/N8C 0.9/0.2 0.30 -50 0.90 -54 69R45M/CHDA/EPON812 PEA/N8C 0.9/0.2 0.25 -52 0.85 -60 61R45~1/C~DA/C~179 __ 0.55 -45 1.40 -62 1' R45MtSA/CY179: binder from the reaction product of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene and succinic anhydride with epoxide similar to 3,4-epoxycyclohexyl-methyl-3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate R45M/CHDA/CH179: binder from the reaction product of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride with 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate R45M/CHDA/ERL4289: binder from the reaction product of hyd~oxyl terminated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride with bix(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate R45M/CHDA/EPON812: binder from the reaction product of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride with derivative of triglycidyl glycerol N8C~ reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end group PEA: reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl~phosphine oxide with diacids ~aziridine polyester) PEA/N8C: mixture of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end group and tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl~phosphine oxide with diacids (aziridine polyester~

3~06Z847 Mixtures 33, 34 and 35 sho~ that the effect of the concentratlon of the reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acld with carboxyl end groups gurface agent is neg~igible when it is employed in the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and succinic an~ydride polyester propellants. Mixturefi 62, 65 and 67 study the effects of the diferent surface active agents in the reaction product of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride polyesters, while mixtures 65, 58 and 69 examine the effects of the various epoxides on the efficiency of the mixture of the reaction product of tris(2-methyl-l-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide with diacids Ca~iridine polyester~/the reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end groups surface active agents in the same polyester. It is noted that the dulus of storage, E', is not greatly affected by the use of the various epoxides (see~Figure 7) or the concentration of the surface active agent (see Figure 9). The presence of surface active agents in the propellant modifies the cross-linking and would give networks of very low comparability, even if corrections were made for the Williams-Landel-Ferry displacement factor.
Nevertheless, it would appear from an examination of Table XVI above and Figure 12 that the reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl~ phosphine oxide with diacids (aziridine polyester) surface active agent improves the properties of the polyester propellants, as was shown by measuring the mechanical properties (see Table XIV above).
Example XVIII
Polyester propellants obtained from a mixture of hydroxyl-terminated polybu-tadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride.
The E" and tanS values of polyester propellants obtained by adding hydroxyl-termdnated polybutadiene and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhy-dride ingredients separately during mixing are given in Table XVIII below.

- TABLE XVIII
Values of E" in Pa x 10-8 and Tan ~ at the Maximum of the Mechanicsl tion Near T~ of Polvester (Mixture of - PropellaDts at 11^ Hz Batch I Surface Active G ¦ E~
No. jA~en t ~ . , ¦ Name ¦ ~ ¦ Maximum Temp ~C Pa x 10-8 j Temp.C
146 __ __ 0.39 -45 1 1.13 -60 145 N8C 0.5 0.30 -45 ¦ 1.40 -62 147 PEA 2.4 0.22 -45 ¦ 0.88 -58 150 ADH-2 2.4 0.21 -45 ¦ 1.26 -42 148 ADH-3 2.4 0.35 -35 ¦ 0.95 -38 100 MAPO 1.2 0.30 -60 1.35 -60 173 I PEA/N8C 0.6/0.4 ~ 0.90 -54 R45M: hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene CHDA: .~ ci8-1, 2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride N8C: reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxylic end group PEA: reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide with diacids ADH-2: condensation product of N-methyldiethanolamine, 2-hydroxyethylaziridine and sebacic acid AD~-3 condensation product of dimeric diisocyanate (DDl) and 2-hydroxyethylaziridine MAPO: tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide PEA/N8C: mixture of reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide with diacids and reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxylic end group The addition of Yarious surface agents produces varied effects on the behaviour of the propellants, either during mixing by an increase in the viscosity, or on the values of E" and tan or the curve of the storage modulus E~ (See Figure 10~. The surface agents, i,e. reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl~ phosphine oxide with diacids (aziridine polyes-ter~, reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end groups or the mixture of reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide with diacids (aziridine polyester) and reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid w~th carboxyl end groups mixture, increase the E~ value less than the other agents [condensation product of methyldiethanolamine, 2-hydroxyethylaziridine and sebacic acid, condensation product of dimeric diisocyanate and 2-hydroxyethylaziridine and tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide]. The surface agents reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide with diacids (aziri-dine polyester) and reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacid acid with carboxyl end groups would appear to improve the properties accord-ing to Figures 11 and 14, but it is not possible to evaluate the other agents [condensation product of N-methyldiethanolamine, 2-hydroxyethylaziridine and sebacic acid, condensation product of dimeric diisocyanate and 2-hydroxy-ethylaziridine and tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide], which con-tribute to the polymer network and notably increase the E' value.
Example XIX
Polyether propellants obtained from hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and epoxides.
The E~' and tand values of polyether propellants obtained from hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/epoxides binders are given below in Table XIX.

`
106Z~47 TABLE XIX
Value of E" in Pa x 10 8 and Tan ~ at the Maximum of the Mechanical Absorption Near T~ of Polyether Prc.:lellants at 110 Hz I _ .
Ratch I Su~face Active l Tan ô E~
~ E~---- E ~ ~a 10-' ToD~ .

41 __ __ 0.42 -35 I ~.80 -60 42 I__ __ 0.40 -35 I 0.90 -50 43 ' __ __ 0.58 -35 1 0.85 -60 44 I__ __ 0.50 -43 1 0.85 -60 __ __ 0.50 -35 l 0.85 -60 52 N8C 0.5 0.40 -35 0.77 -60 53 - PEA 2.4 0.50 -40 1.00 -60 54 L~ 10.2/0.9 0.~0 L~l -60 N8C: Reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end groups PEA: Reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide with diacids (aziridine polyester) The effect of surface agents ~re~ction p~oduct of tris~2-methyl-l-aziridinyl2 phosphine oxide with diacids (aziridine polyester2, reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end groups and the reaction product of tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl~ phosphine oxlde with diacids ~aziridine polyester~ and reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end groups mixture~ on the E" and tanS values of polyether propellants is very slight (see Table XIX above). Moreover, these surface agents slightly increase the value of the modulus of storage, E~, and have a slight effect on cross-linking (see Figure 11). Cooking, furthermore, is greatly slowed without improvement to the quality of the polymer-solid interface. The presence of these surface agents on the ammo-nium perchlorate would delay the catalysis of the perchlorate during the formation of the polyether binder.
Thus, by one aspect of this invention, the transformation of an hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene into carboxyl-terminated polybutadienes by the reaction of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with solid anhydrides (e.g. succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, etc.) under reflux in solvents, e.g. benzene or toluene, produces a prepolymer of lowér viscosity (16 Ns/m ) than the carboxyl-terminated polybutadienes available commercially (25 Ns/m ).
By another aspect of the invention, the transformation of an hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene into a carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene by the reaction of the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with a liquid anhydride, e.g. cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride, at temperatures between 60 and 90C. without a solvent, produces a prepolymer of higher viscosity than the hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (37.4 and 6.9 Ns/m respectively~ but lower than the carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene.
By still another aspect of the invention, elastomers are obtained from the carboxylated derivatives of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene of other aspects of this invention~ and commercial epoxides ~ERL 4221, trade mark for 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate), ERL 4289 (trade mark for bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methyl-cyclohexylmethyl) adipate, ERL 0510 (trade mark for N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether), EPON 812 (trade mark for derivative of triglycidyl glycerol, Equiv. weight:
153 g.), etc.~ in the presence of chromium slats (oleate, octanoate, octoate, etc.) as catalysts. The polyesters obtained have energies varying between 1.0 and 2.0 joules at 22.8C., and these are comparable to those obtained by the reaction of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene with the isocycanates.
By yet another aspect of this invention, elastomers are obtained from a mixture of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, cis-1,2-cyclohexane di-car-boxylic anhydride and epoxides rcY 179 (trade mark for an epoxide similar to 3, 4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate), ERL 4221 (trade mark for 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate, etc.~ in the presence of chromium salts (oleate, octanoate or octoate, etc.) at 80C. These polyesters have energies similar to the polyesters of the aforesaid aspect of this invention.
By still another aspect of this invention, composite propellants containing 88% solids (aluminum and ammonium perchlorate) were prepared from the polyesters of other aspects of this invention. These propel-lants gave elongations of 15-20% at 22.8% and 8-10% at -45.5C.
By yet another aspect of this invention, composite propellants containing 88Z solids (aluminum and ammonium perchlorate) and a poly-ether binder obtained by the reaction of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and epoxides [ERL 4221 (trade mark for 3,4 epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3',4'-epoxy-cyclohexane carboxylate), CY 179 (trade mark for an epoxide similar to 3,4 epoxycyclohexyl-methyl 3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate), etc.~ in tbe presence of chromium slats (octanoate and oleate). Cooking of these polyether propellants takes place at temperatures varying between 60 and 125 C. in the presence of chromium oleate and ammonium perchlorate. Polyether propellants generally have mechanical properties slightly inferior to those of the polyester propellants and require long cooking times. If surface agents are added, they reduce catalysis and delay cooking.
This application disclosed further, a a new surface agent, reaction product of N-methyldiethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end groups, which is obtained from methyldiethanolamine and a slight excess of sebacic acid, H(COOCH2CH2-N(CH3CH2CH2-C00 (CH2)8)nCOOH, gives a product that possesses carboxyl-terminated groups. The addition of this surface agent to the propellants of other aspects of this invention improves the mechanical properties, such as, for example, the maximum strain, ~m' and the elongation at maximum load, m, which are determined by means of the Instron. The mechanical properties of polyester propellants are impro-ved by between 25 and 50% by the addition of 1.0% of this reaction product of N-methyl-diethanolamine and sebacic acid with carboxyl end groups surface agent, but these properties are obtained after 56 days of aging.

_ 48 -

Claims (33)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A process for the preparation of cross-linked elastomer de-rivatives of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin, comprising (a) the two stage process of reacting an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, poly-heptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, each having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxy-lic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and 1,2-cis-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride, and then reacting the carboxyl-derivative so formed with an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl gly-cerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenylglycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, in the presence of a metallic salt as cata-lyst, or a metallic coordination compound; or (b) the single stage process of reacting an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, poly-heptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxy-lic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and 1,2-cis-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and an epoxide selected from the group con-sisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide deriva-tive of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-amino-phenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as catalyst or (c) reacting an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group con-sisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, poly-ethylene, polybutybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; and epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol;
3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A; and with ammonium perchlorate.

2. A process according to claim 1 for preparing a cross-linked elastomer which comprises:
(a) reacting a hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group con-sisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, poly-ethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride, wherein the acid anhydride is selected from the group con-sisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methyl-glutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and cis-1,2-cyclo-hexanedicarboxylic anhydride; and then (b) reacting the carboxyl derivative so formed with an epoxide selected from the group consisting of diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adi-pate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, in the presence of a metallic salt catalyst.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein, in step (a) the reaction is carried out in a solvent selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, dioxane, hexane and cyclohexane.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the reaction is carried out in benzene or toluene.

5. The process of claim 2 wherein the anhydride is a solid anhy-dride which is reacted under reflux in a solvent.

6. The process of claim 2 wherein the anhydride is a liquid anhy-dride which is reacted at a temperature of 60-90°C.

7. The process of claim 2, wherein the anhydride is selected from succinic anhydride and methylsuccinic anhydride.

8. The process of claim 2, wherein the anhydride is cis-1,2-cyclo-hexane dicarboxylic anhydride.

9. The process of claim 2, 7 or 8 wherein the metallic salt or metal coordination compound catalyst is selected from the group consisting of iron linoleate, iron octoate, iron naphthenate, stannous octoate, chromium diisopropyl salicylate, chromium naphthenate, chromium stearate, chromium acetylacetonate, chromium acetate, cupric acetyl acetonate, thorium acetyl acetonate, vanadium acetyl acetonate, calcium acetyl acetonate, zirconium acetyl acetonate, sodium acetyl acetonate, titanium acetyl acetonate and iron hexafluoro acetyl acetonate.

10. The process of claim 2, 7 or 8, wherein the metallic salt is selected from chromium oleate, chromium acetate and chromium octoate.

11. The process of claim 7 or 8, wherein the epoxide is a condensa-tion product of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A.

12. The process of claim 1 or 2, wherein the acid anhydride is succinic anhydride, the epoxide is 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclo-hexane carboxylate, the metallic salt catalyst is chromium oleate, and the hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.

13. A process according to claim 1 for preparing a cross-linked elastomer which comprises reacting an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polypropylene and polybutylene, each having hy-droxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhy-dride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglu-taric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and 1,2-cis-cyclo-hexanedicarboxylic anhydride and with an epoxide selected from the group con-sisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide deriva-tive of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl)adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and con-densation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as catalyst.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein the acid anhydride is selected from 3-methylglutaric anhydride and cis-1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride.

15. A process according to claim 1, which comprises reacting an hy-droxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybuta-diene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybuty-lene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an epoxide selected from the group consisting of diglycidyl ether of polyobypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate;
N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A; and with ammonium perchlorate.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein the reaction is effected in the presence of a catalyst selected from chromium oleate and chromium octano-ate.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein the reaction is effected at temperatures in the range of 60 to 125°C.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein the hydroxyl-terminated poly-olefin is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein the epoxide is 3,4-epoxy cyclo-hexylmethyl-3',4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate.

20. A cross-linked elastomer selected from (I) the polyether reaction product of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, poly-heptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, hav-ing hydroxyl end groups; an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of trigly-cidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate;
bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A when carried out in the presence of ammonium perchlorate as a catalyst; and (II) the polyester reaction product of a carboxyl-terminated polyolefin de-rived from the reaction of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, poly-isoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride, wherein the acid anhydride is selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzene-dicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and cis-1,2 cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride, and an epoxide selected from the group consisting of diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclo-hexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid;
and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, when carried out in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as a catalyst.

21. The elastomer of claim 19, comprising the polyester reaction product of a carboxyl-terminated polyolefin derived from the reaction of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of poly-butadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, poly-butylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhy-dride, wherein the acid anhydride is selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and cis-1,2 cyclohexane-dicarboxylic anhydride, and an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and con-densation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, when carried out in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as a catalyst.

22. The elastomer of claim 21, wherein the hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.

23. The elastomer of claim 22, wherein the anhydride is selected from succinic anhydride and methylsuccinic anhydride, and wherein the sol-vent is selected from benzene and toluene.

24. m e elastomer of claim 22, wherein the anhydride is selected from cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride, and 3-methylglutaric anhydride

25. The elastomer of claim 21, wherein the carboxyl-terminated poly-butadiene is prepared by effecting the reacting at temperatures of 60 - 90°C.

26. The elastomer of claim 19, comprising the polyether reaction product of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consist-ing of polybytadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethyl-ene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups; an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexy-methyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexyl-methyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy de-rivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bis-phenol-A; when carried out in the presence of ammonium perchlorate as the catalyst.

27. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.

28. A propellant comprising (i) a cross-linked elastomer selected from:

(a) the polyether reaction product of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyhep-tadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups; an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a digly-cidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis (3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A; when carried out in the presence of ammonium perchlorate as the catalyst; and (b) the polyester reaction product of a carboxyl-terminated polyolefin derived from the reaction of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, with an acid anhydride, wherein the acid anhydride is selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and cis-1,2 cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxyclyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate;
N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A when carried out in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination com-pound as a catalyst;
(ii) ammonium perchlorate in powder form; and (iii) aluminum powder.

29. The propellant of claim 28 comprising:
(i) a cross-linked elastomer comprising the polyether reaction product of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyhepta-diene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropy-lene, having hydroxyl end groups; an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol; an epoxide derivative of triglycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis (3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphe-nol-A when carried out in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as a catalyst;
(ii) ammonium perchlorate in powder form; and (iii) aluminum powder.

30. The propellant of claim 28 comprising (i) the polyester reaction product of a carboxyl-terminated poly-olefin derived from the reaction of an hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polypentadiene, polyheptadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polybutylene and polypropylene, having hydroxyl end groups, and an acid anhydride, wherein the acid anhydride is selected from the group consisting of succinic anhydride, methylsuccinic anhydride, benzenedicarboxylic anhydride, phthallic anhydride, cyclobutanedicarboxylic anhydride, 3-methylglutaric anhydride, hexahydro-4-methylphthallic anhydride and cis-1,2 cyclohexane-dicarboxylic anhydride and an epoxide selected from the group consisting of a diglycidyl ether of polyoxypropylene glycol;
and epoxide derivative of trigylycidyl glycerol; 3,4-epoxy-cyclohexylmethyl-3'4'-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate; bis(3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl) adipate; N,N-diglycidyl-p-aminophenyl glycidyl ether; the epoxy derivative of sebacic acid; and condensation products of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A, when carried out in the presence of a metallic salt or a metal coordination compound as a catalyst;

(ii) ammonium perchlorate, and (iii) aluminum powder.

31. The propellant of claims 28, 29 or 30, wherein the ammonium perchlorate is a mixture of particles having sizes of 400 um, 200 um and 17 um, in a weight ratio of 1.7, 2.7 and 1Ø

32. The propellant of claims 28, 29 or 30, wherein the aluminum powder has a spherical particle size of 17 microns.

33. The propellant of claims 28, 29 or 30, wherein the hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene.