Synthetic routes to modify hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene for various potential applications

Abstract

Hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) is widely used in various purposes especially as a binder in the solid rocket propellant (SRP). Recent trends of modifying HTPB to be used as a binder is at high demands but structural modification without affecting core physiochemical properties of HTPB is very challenging synthetic task. In this article, we have summarized the various synthetic routes for the modification of HTPB without altering any physical properties of pristine HTPB. It was established that terminal functionalization method is extremely advantageous for maintaining all the unique properties of pristine HTPB even after other structural modification, additionally it helps to improve significantly some of the important properties of HTPB based polyurethanes. Besides, the utility of our modified HTPB based polymers has been briefly outlined here and it was shown that few of our modified HTPB based polymers are most suitable to replace HTPB completely from the propellant formulations. We also highlighted modification of HTPB by grafting polymer chains/small functional molecules in the vinylic position. Overall, this review is expected to greatly impactful for further studies in these fields.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• HTPB
• polyurethane
• propellant
• hard-soft segmentation
• polymeric binders

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mutyala Naidu Ganivada

Prof. Tushar Jana obtained M.Sc.-Chemistry in 1997 from University of Calcutta, India. In 2002, he was awarded Ph.D.- Polymer Science from Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, India. He pursued post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, USA during 2002–2003. From 2003–2005, he did 2nd Post-doctoral fellowship in Department of Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York, USA. In 2005, he was appointed as Lecturer in School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, India. Since 2013 he is a Professor. His recent research areas are mainly focused on polyurethanes, polymer membrane, and polymeric nanostructure. He has published 89 research articles in international journals and hold four patents.

Moumita Dhara

Dr. Mutyala Naidu Ganivada has completed B.Sc. degree from AMAL College, Andhra University, India in 2007. In 2009, he completed M.Sc. from Andhra University, India. In 2017 he was awarded Ph.D. from IISER-Kolkata, India in Polymer Science. From 2017–2018, he pursued post-doctoral fellowship from Ewha Woman's University, South Korea. From 2018–2019, he continued 2nd Post-doctoral fellowship from Hongik University, South Korea. Presently he is working as a research associate under the supervision of Prof. Tushar Jana in Advanced Centre of Research in High Energy Material (ACRHEM), University of Hyderabad, India. His research areas are synthesis of organic molecules, polyurethanes, ring anionic polymerization and materials composite solid rocket propellant. He has published 12 research articles in international journals.

Sourav Jana

Moumita Dhara obtained her B.Sc. (Hons) degree in chemistry in 2011 from Scottish Church College, Calcutta University, India. In 2013, she completed M.Sc. in chemistry from Presidency University, India. She has joined as a PhD scholar in 2015 under the supervision of Prof. Tushar Jana in School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, India and submitted the Ph.D. thesis in 2021. She mainly worked on the development of ferrocene based polymeric binder system and various complex polymeric nanostructures synthesized via RAFT polymerization. She has published 5 research articles publications in international journals and holds one patent.

Tushar Jana

Sourav Jana has completed B.Sc. (Hons) in chemistry from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, West Bengal State University, India in 2015. In 2017 he obtained M.Sc. from Presidency University, India. He worked as a research chemist in TCG Life Sciences Privates Ltd during 2018–2019. Since 2020 he is working as a project associate in Advanced Centre of Research in High Energy Material (ACRHEM) under the supervision of Prof. Tushar Jana.