Energetic Material Tackifier Resin for Plasticizer-Free Homogeneity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energetic material formulations face issues with plasticizer migration, reduced homogeneity, and undesirable reactions due to bonding agents, leading to impaired adhesion and lower density, which affect the performance and efficiency of the materials.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a tackifier resin compatible with the polymeric binder to reduce or eliminate the use of plasticizer and bonding agent, while maintaining formulation integrity and adhesion, using resins with specific compatibility and stability properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plasticiser is used to enable ready processing of the formulation, then ease of manufacture is improved, but plasticiser migrates to the surface and into the liner, reducing homogeneity and impairing adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the plasticiser component from the binder formulation entirely, replacing its processing benefits with alternative polymer combinations that achieve ready processing through different mechanisms (plasticisers inherent to the polymer structure or processing conditions) rather than added plasticising agents, thereby eliminating migration issues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the binder system by selecting specific polymer combinations (such as polybutadiene with specific glass transition temperatures, vinyl acetate content ranges, and molecular weight distributions) that inherently provide processability without requiring separate plasticiser additives
2Strength
If bonding agent is used to secure the oxidiser within the formulation, then adhesion is improved, but bonding agent reacts with oxidiser to form ammonia, creating harmful factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes bonding agents from the formulation by relying on the inherent adhesion properties of the polymer binder matrix and the physical entrapment of oxidiser particles within the binder network, eliminating the source of ammonia-forming reactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of oxidiser-reactive bonding agents into a benefit by using polymers whose functional groups can interact with oxidiser without harmful reactions, and by utilizing the binder's viscosity and curing properties to physically secure oxidiser particles through non-reactive mechanisms
3Ease of manufacture
If polybutadiene based binder is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but density is low, reducing energy per unit volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite binder system combining polybutadiene with other polymers (such as vinyl acetate copolymers, acrylic polymers, or polyester polymers) having different density characteristics, achieving a balanced formulation that maintains manufacturing ease while increasing overall binder and formulation density
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the polybutadiene binder parameters by selecting specific grades with higher molecular weights, different microstructures (cis-1,4 vs trans-1,4 vs 1,2-polymerized), or blending with higher density polymers to increase the overall density of the binder system while preserving its essential binding and processing properties
Data Source
AI summary
A tackifier is used resin in an energic material formulation comprising active materials and a polymeric binder to reduce or eliminate the use of a plasticiser in the formulation wherein the tackifier resin is compatible with the polymeric material.