Facile Preparation and Properties of Crosslinked Copolyether Elastomers with 1,2,3-Triazole and Urethane Subunit via...

An azide terminated ethylene oxide-tetrahydrofuran copolymer with urethane segments (ATUPET) as a novel binder pre-polymer, has been prepared through ethylene oxide-tetrahydrofuran random copolymer (PET) end-capping modification via one-pot method. The structure characterization of the modifier has been analyzed by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and GPC. In comparison with PET, ATUPET has a slightly higher viscosity because it has additional hydrogen bonding interaction generated by the urethane in ATUPET. Triazole cross-linked elastomers based on ATUPET with various functional molar ratios were prepared using tripropargylamine as a curing agent and cross-linker. Mechanical properties indicate that the modulus E and tensile strength σ _b exhibit a parabolic dependence with the increase in R. At around the stoichiometric ratio, the modulus E and tensile strength σ _b reach a maximum and the elongation at break exhibit an acceptable value at the same time. Swelling tests demonstrate that the apparent cross-linking densities (N₀) have a maximum value at the stoichiometric ratio. Thermal analysis shows that the ATUPET prepolymer and its polytriazoles elastomers exhibit a satisfactory stability. The results demonstrated that ATUPET might be a promising polymeric binder for future propellant formulations especially in the field of isocyanate-free curing technology.