Polybutadiene acrylonitrile (PBAN)

copolymer In polymer chemistry, a copolymer is a polymer derived from more than one species of monomer. The polymerization of monomers into copolymers is called copolymerization. Copolymers obtained from the copolymerization of two monomer species are ...

, also noted as polybutadiene— acrylic acid—

acrylonitrile Acrylonitrile is an organic compound with the formula and the structure . It is a colorless, volatile liquid although commercial samples can be yellow due to impurities. It has a pungent odor of garlic or onions. In terms of its molecula ...

terpolymer is a copolymer compound used most frequently as a rocket propellant fuel mixed with ammonium perchlorate oxidizer. It was the binder formulation widely used on the 1960s–1970s big boosters (e.g., Titan III and Space Shuttle SRBs). Polybutadiene acrylonitrile is also sometimes used by amateurs due to simplicity, very low cost, and lower toxicity than the more common hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB). HTPB uses isocyanates for curing, which have a relatively quick curing time; however, they are also generally toxic. PBAN based propellants also have a slightly higher performance than HTPB based propellants. PBAN is normally cured with the addition of an epoxy resin, taking several days at elevated temperatures to cure.

Usages

PBAN was to be used in the

Constellation program The Constellation program (abbreviated CxP) was a crewed spaceflight program developed by NASA, the space agency of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. The major goals of the program were "completion of the International Space Station" and a ...

, later canceled, as this

was to be used in the first stage of the Ares I rocket in five segments. However future versions of Ares I were discussed using liquid propellants as a potential alternative. PBAN is currently used in the solid rocket boosters on the SLS rocket.

References

Rocket fuels Acrylate polymers Copolymers Plastics {{rocket-stub