POLYMERIZATION OF POLY(GLYCIDYL NITRATE) FROM HIGH PURITY GLYCIDYL NITRATE SYNTHESIZED FROM GLYCEROL

摘要

Glycerol is nitrated with at least one nitrating source in a solvent to form a nitrated glycerol solution containing dinitroglycerin. The nitrated glycerol solution is treated with at least one cyclizing agent to convert the dinitroglycerin into glycidyl nitrate, which is polymerized into poly(glycidyl nitrate) (PGN). Distillation or other vaporization techniques are not required to remove nitroglycerin from the glycidyl nitrate prior to polymerization of the glycidyl nitrate. Rather, the nitroglycerin can be carried along with the dinitroglycerin during polymerization. As a consequence, the glycidyl nitrate is not exposed to elevated temperatures sufficient to cause accidental explosion or deflagration of the nitrate ester. Still more preferably, the glycidyl nitrate is not heated above room temperature at any time prior to polymerization. Moreover, given the high energy performance of nitroglycerin, the nitroglycerin can optionally be retained with the PGN, i.e., not washed out, for subsequent processing and end use.