Polymer bonded explosives have been an area of concern for the DOE complex for years. In this study, the poly(ester urethane) (Estane) (as shown in Figure 1), which is a key component in a binder used in PBX-9501, was exposed to a variety of environments, with and without nitroplasticizer (NP) for 36 months. At certain time intervals, the aged samples were characterized using thermal analyses (DSC and TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). With a large data set that contains aging conditions such as age, temperature, and NP presence, the analysis technique Two Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy (2D-COS) was utilized to find significant correlations in the degradation of Estane. 2D-COS is used when a sample is exposed to an external perturbation and systemically characterized, as was done in this study, which allows synchronous (correlated) and asynchronous (sequential) spectra to be calculated (Figure 2). These spectra show different relationships of molecular changes in a material during the degradation process, allowing for mechanisms to be proposed. When aged with NP, there is evidence of multiple degradation mechanisms possible. Therefore, this technique allows for better understanding of these different mechanisms. The significant and correlated changes to Estane and resulting degradation mechanisms are discussed in this presentation. LA-UR-21-29900

Utilizing two dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) to investigate thermoplastic polyurethane degradation

ACS Spring 2022

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