Thermal decomposition of energetic materials 12. Infrared spectral and rapid thermolysis studies of azide-containing monomers and polymers

Abstract

The IR spectra of the monomers and homopolymers of glycidyl azide (GAP), 3-azidomethyl-3-methyloxetane (AMMO), 3,3-bis(azidomethyl)oxetane (BAMO), 3-azidooxetane (AZOX), and 3-(2,3-diazidopropoxymethyl)-3-methyloxetane (DAPMMO) were assigned. Rapid-scanning Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (10 scans s-1) was used to characterize the slow (5K min-1) and rapid thermolysis (50-255K s-1) of these compounds. The azide group decomposes before the polymer backbone does. However, once decomposed the products are essentially a mixture of those expected of low-membered cyclic ethers and methyl azide. The gaseous decomposition product concentrations are strikingly insensitive to the applied pressure (1-1000 psi Ar) and to the heating rate (50-255K s-1). HCN is the dominant IR active product in all cases except for AMMO monomer, where CO is more abundant. AMMO polymer is the most thermally stable of the polymers. © 1986.