Abstract: Useful hydroxyl-terminated polyolefin prepolymers, e.g. polybutadiene prepolymers, are provided which may be cross-linked with an epoxide to yield a polyether elastomeric material or with a mixture of an anhydride and an epoxide to form a polyester material. One such prepolymer is a carboxyl-terminated polyolefin, e.g. polybutadiene prepared by reacting a hydroxy-terminated polyolefin, e.g. polybutadiene with solid or liquid anhydrides. Polyether and polyester propellants containing up to about 88% of solid ammonium perchlorate in the powder form and aluminum powder may be prepared from the above two materials (binders). The physical and mechanical properties from these propellants depend on the ratios and on the order of addition of each ingredient, the curing temperature and the presence of surface-active agents. Polyester propellants may be made either by using the hydroxy-terminated polyolefin, e.g. polybutadiene prereacted with anhydrides or by mixing simultaneously all ingredients with the solids.

Abstract: An insulation system for use in rocket motors containing solid composite propellants is disclosed. Some composite rocket propellants are based on carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene (CTPB) and others on hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) binders. An important requirement of such systems is the ability of the wall insulation to adhere to the combustion chamber and of the composite propellant to adequately adhere to the insulation system. With CTPB propellants, a sheet insulant comprising chrysotile asbestos fibers and floats dispersed in a CTPB polymeric binder has been successfully employed. However, the use of a similar sheet insulant based on HTPB polymeric binder has not proved to be compatible with HTPB propellants.