Nitrate Ester Acrylate Polymers (NEAPs): The Synthesis, Characterization, and Mechanical Testing of New Energetic Binders*

Conventional formulations of energetic materials consist of an explosive compound that is bound together with a non-explosive binder, or polymer, material. In order to make more powerful formulations, energetic binders are sought after to increase the overall energetic performance of explosive formulations. Acrylate-based energetic nitrate esters were synthesized and polymerized for these applications. The energetic monomers were polymerized using UV radical-catalyzed chain growth methods. All materials were characterized using NMR, FT-IR, HRMS, and GPC. Additionally, the energetic binders were tested for their mechanical sensitivity to impact, friction, and electrical discharge, as well as mechanical characteristics via rheometry.