Modelling , of Polyurethanes Based on Hydroxyl- Terminated Polybutadiene

Forty formulations based on four different grades ofhydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, HTPB(hydroxyl value 20- 40 mg KOHlg) at r = [NCO] / [OH] values in the range 0.7 -1.0 with varyingamounts of trimethylol propane and butane diol and containing 86 per cent solid loading wereconsidered to test the applicability of a.-model of Marsh, et al. for prediction of the mechanicalproperties of composite solid propellants. Two network parameters, crosslink density (Ve) andeffective chain length (LX), were calculated from the model. Tensile strength and modulus werecorrelated to Ve and elongation at break to LX. Using the correlations obtained from experimental dataat r< 0.8, mechanical properties of the various fonnulations were predicted. Good agreement betweenexperimental and predicted properties was obtained for fonnulations with modulus 10 KSC. Probablereasons for deviation observed at stoichiometric ratio r < 0.8 and low modulus values are discussed.Improved correlations between mechanical properties and network parameters, applicable over a widerange of fonnulations, were arrived at. The standard errors of prediction were found to be close to :+- 1 0-value of the measurement