Properties of Hydroxyl‐Terminal Polybutadiene (HTPB) and Its Use as a Liner and Binder for Composite Propellants: A Review of Recent Advances

• Published in: Propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics Vol. 47; no. 5
• Main Authors: Quagliano Amado, Javier Carlos, Ross, Pablo Germán, Mattos Silva Murakami, Lidia, Narciso Dutra, Jorge Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2022
• Subjects: binder; composite propellant; Composite propellants; Fourier transforms; Graphene; HTPB propellants; Hydroxyl-Terminal Polybutadiene (HTPB); Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; liner; Linings; Nanomaterials; Polybutadiene; Polyurethane; Propellant grains; Rocket engines
• ISSN: 0721-3115; 1521-4087
• DOI: 10.1002/prep.202100283

This paper reviews hydroxyl‐terminal polybutadiene (HTPB) used as liner and binder for composite propellants, applied in rocket motors studied throughout the last decades, emphasizing the recent advances. The contribution aims to show the importance of HTPB in the propellant composition and on the liner coating of the rocket motor, which is in contact with the propellant grain. This paper also shows that many researchers have thoroughly studied several properties of HTPB, which are relevant to its role in liners and propellants. We have also reviewed analytical techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) as a characterization technique for HTPB and HTPB‐based polyurethanes. Reflection and transfectants FTIR may be a future trend in studies about polymeric matrices for liners and propellants, and in the area of propellant formulations that use energetic binders, graphene and nanomaterials.