Polynorbornene-based combustible compositions and processes for the fabrication thereof

Abstract

Abstract Polynorbornene has been found to be an excellent binder for the preparation of solid fuel materials and solid propellants. Mixtures of polynorbornene with liquid fuel materials such as kerosene, gasoline, or the advanced missile and aircraft liquid fuels such as JP-4, JP-5, JP-9, JP-10, RJ-4, and RJ-5, for example, can contain 80% or more of the liquid fuel material and still exist in the form of a tough rubbery polymer which has excellent burning characteristics as a solid fuel for a ramjet. Many of these materials can be tailored to have heats of combustion higher than the state-of-the-art solid ramjet fuel formulations. In addition, self-sustaining gas generating compositions which can be used for such various purposes as solid propellants or gas generators for ducted rockets and the like can be fabricated by the inclusion in the polynorbornene, either alone or in conjunction with suitable liquid fuels and other additives of particulate oxidizer materials such as ammonium perchlorate or any of the other solid particulate oxidizers commonly used in the preparation of composite solid propellants. Suitable compositions can be prepared by admixture of the polynorbornene with the liquid fuel and suitable plasticizers and vulcanizing agents therefor. In the case in which a solid self-sustaining gas generating composition is to be formulated the suitable particulate oxidizing material and other solid ingredients can be mixed with the polynorbornene prior to the addition of the liquid ingredients and then curing the mixture into a tough rubbery polymeric structure. It is also possible to polymerize the norbornene monomer in situ in the presence of oxidizers, antioxidants, plasticizers, and a suitable polymerization catalyst such as ruthenium chloride.

Inventors

• 👤 William S. Anderson

Bibliographic Details