Synthesis, characterization and thermal decomposition kinetics of BAMO/AMMO tri-block copolymer

3, 3′-Bisazidomethyloxetane/3-azidomethyl-3′-methyloxetane (BAMO/AMMO) tri-block copolymer was synthesized by cationic ring opening polymerization using BF₃ · Et₂O/1, 4-butanediol as initiating system. Structural analysis and molecular weight characterization of the copolymer were carried out through FTIR, ¹H NMR and GPC. Glass transition temperature was measured by DSC. The results show that molecular weight of BAMO/AMMO tri-block copolymer is controllable and molecular weight distribution is relatively narrow. The synthesized copolymer exhibits the characteristics of an energetic thermoplastic elastomer. The kinetic analysis of thermal decomposition reaction was performed by Vyazovkin's nonlinear model-free method, which suggests that the activation energy of azide group is around 150kJ/mol. The tri-block copolymer should form a crosslinking network structure after the decomposition of azide group.