Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras

A Process for Manufacture of Hydrogenated Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene (HHTPB) using Pd-Zr- Activated Charcoal as Catalyst

Categories for this Invention

Technology: Hydrogenated Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene (HHTPB) using Pd-Zr-activated Charcoal as catalyst

Industry: Advanced Material Industry;

Application: Binder for soft Explosives, missiles, portable rockets, fireworks, incendiaries;

Market: The global Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.6% during the forecast period (2024-29).

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Problem Statement

  • The problem statement discussed in the present invention is how to provide an improved process for preparing hydrogenated hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene that selectively hydrogenate the unsaturated double bond of the HTPB by addressing various factors influence the catalytic hydrogenation, i.e. type of catalyst that affect the selectivity of hydrogenation that influence the solubility of reactants including other issues.
  • Hence, there is a need to provides the solution efficiently.

Technology

  • Present patent describes a process for hydrogenation of a hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) in presence of Pd-Zr/ charcoal catalyst and an organic solvent system to prepare various levels of degree of hydrogenated hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (5%-90%).
  • This hydrogenated HTPB can be used as an advanced binder for composite solid propellant system.

The process comprises the step of:

  • Hydrogenating the HTPB in presence of hydrogen gas, Pd-Zr/activated charcoal catalyst, & an organic solvent system at a temperature (180℃ to 270℃) to obtain 40%-60% degree of hydrogenated hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene.

Key Features / Value Proposition

Technical & Industrial Perspective:

Experimental Setup for Hydrogenation of HTPB:

The process was carried out in reactor with magnetically driven variable speed impeller (Fig.4). The process is carried out at room temperature for a period of 6h to 12h.

Catalyst details:

  • Pd, Zr and charcoal in the catalyst is in the weight ratio of 2% to 5 % palladium, 5% to 8 % zirconium and 87% to 93 % charcoal based on total weight of catalyst. (Fig. 3)
  • The amount of catalyst is in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 % of the hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene.
  • Charcoal is activated charcoal.
  • Organic solvent system is selected from isopropyl alcohol, toluene, cyclohexene, methanol, or combination thereof.

Utility:

  • The present invention provides the use of the selectively partially hydrogenated hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene for the binder of a composite solid propellant system, polymer modification, synthesis of polyurethanes (thermoplastic and thermo-setting), encapsulants, adhesives and sealants, high temperature grease, and coatings etc.
  • The composition and methods are effective in the synthesis of HHTPB in large scale for making solid propellant industries like ISRO, DRDO, Ordinance factories and others.

Questions about this Technology?

Contact For Licensing

sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in

Research Lab

Prof. Ravi Krishnan Vinu

Prof. Abhijit P Deshpande

Department of Chemical Engineering

Intellectual Property

  • IITM IDF Ref. 2690;

  • IN Patent No. 537079 (Granted)

Technology Readiness Level

TRL-4

Proof of Concept ready, tested and validated in Laboratory

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