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Ms. Coman Alina Elena

Scientific Researcher

- Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Researcher

ResearcherID: not public

Curriculum Vitae (01/10/2019)

Expertise & keywords

Intelligent Polymeric Composites for New Generations of Rocket Fuels - RAKETCOMB Call name:
70PCCDI ⁄ 2018 2018 - 2020

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Project partners: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO); UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI (RO); Academia Tehnica Militara (RO)

Affiliation: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO)

Project website: http://icechim-rezultate.ro/proiect.php?id=33&lang=en

Abstract:

Propulsion powders, which are the basic load of rocket engines, are found in the literature as propellants. Propellants are combustible materials containing high amounts of oxygen required for their combustion and, hence, their main function is to impart motion to a projectile or missile. For rocket engines, generally solid heterogeneous propellants are used. Propellants are composite materials made up of three basic components: a binder, a solid oxidant and a metallic fuel additive (carburant). The most used binder for propellants is hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), which is expensive and implies specific transportation and manipulation requirements. Therefore, the aim of this study refers to partial or total replacement of HTPB with cheaper, more efficient and ecological products. In the literature, there are numerous studies on replacing HTPB with polyethers or polyesters to lower production the costs. Yet, no studies were found on the use of polyols obtained from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste. Preparing polyols from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is cheaper mostly due to the synthesis method. In addition, the aromatic residue of PET confers rigidity, compared to aliphatic residues, which is a desired property for solid rocket fuels. Herein, the polyester-polyol synthesis was performed in successive steps: Glycolysis- PET depolymerization in the presence of polyethylene glycol 600 (PEG600); Transesterification with vegetable oils; Esterification, with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids or derivatives, of the PET solvolysis products (resulting from the glycolysis and transesterification reactions). The polyols obtained were reacted with different isocyanates to obtain rigid polyurethanes (example: PU-R9 and PU-R10) able to replace HTPB. The new formulations of polyurethane binders for rocket propellants were characterized by FTIR, TGA, DMA and tensile tests to emphases their structure and stiffness. In the next step, the carburant will be added and the binding properties will be assessed.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects