Synthesis and characterization of bis(2,2-dinitropropyl ethylene) formal plasticizer for energetic binders

A novel gem-dinitro bis(2,2-dinitropropyl ethylene) formal (BDNPEF) was synthesized and its potential application to plasticize energetic binders was investigated. BDNPEF was synthesized from aldol condensation of formaldehyde with 2,2-dinitropropanol (DNP-OH) and ethylene glycol (EG), followed by purification. One of the byproducts of this process was bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) formal (BDNPF), which is currently used as an energetic plasticizer. Compared to commercial nitro plasticizers, BDNPEF synthesized in this study showed good plasticization efficiency with a decrease in glass transition temperature (Tg) and viscosity of uncured glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) blends, as well as substantial ability to plasticize the GAP-based polyurethanes (PUs). BDNPEF has potential applications as an energetic plasticizer to engineer the properties of the GAP-based energetic PU binders.