The response of hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene to one-dimensional shock loading

Hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) is commonly used as a binder system in rocket propellants and plastic bonded explosives (PBXs). As such, the investigation of this material under high-strain-rate and shock-loading conditions is of importance if the response of propellants and PBXs is to be understood. Therefore, the Hugoniot of two different HTPB compositions has been investigated, using manganin stress gauges. Both materials have a linear Us–up relationship, with the material having a higher plasticizer content having a lower value of c0. It has been suggested that additions of plasticizer increase the compliance of the material. In addition, in one composition, shock recovery experiments have been performed. Results indicate that no changes in glass transition temperature, decomposition temperature, or molecular weight occur in the range of shock stresses investigated.