Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Thermal Behaviors of 3‐Nitro‐1,5‐bis(4,4′‐dimethylazide)‐1,2,3‐triazolyl‐3‐azapentane (NDTAP)

The energetic material, 3‐nitro‐1,5‐bis(4,4′‐dimethyl azide)‐1,2,3‐triazolyl‐3‐azapentane (NDTAP), was firstly synthesized by means of Click Chemistry using 1,5‐diazido‐3‐nitrazapentane as main material. The structure of NDTAP was confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy; mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The crystal structure of NDTAP was determined by X‐ray diffraction. It belongs to monoclinic system, space group C2/c with crystal parameters a=1.7285(8) nm, b=0.6061(3) nm, c=1.6712(8) nm, β=104.846(8)°, V=1.6924(13) nm³, Z=8, μ=0.109 mm⁻¹, F(000)=752, and D_c=1.422 g cm⁻³. The thermal behavior and non‐isothermal decomposition kinetics of NDTAP were studied with DSC and TG‐DTG methods. The self‐accelerating decomposition temperature and critical temperature of thermal explosion are 195.5 and 208.2 °C, respectively. NDTAP presents good thermal stability and is insensitive.     

Thermal Decomposition,Kinetics and Compatibility Studies of Poly(3‐difluoroaminomethyl‐3‐methyloxetane) (PDFAMO)

The thermal decomposition of poly(3‐difluoroaminomethyl‐3‐methyloxetane) (PDFAMO) with an average molecular weight of about 6000 was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The kinetics of thermolysis were studied by a model‐free method. The thermal decomposition of PDFAMO occurred in a two‐stage process. The first stage was mainly due to elimination of HF and had an activation energy of 110–120 kJ mol⁻¹. The second stage was due to degradation of the polymer chain. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the degradation residues showed that the difluoroamino groups decomposed in a two‐step HF loss at different temperatures. The remaining monofluoroimino groups produced by the incomplete elimination of HF were responsible for the two‐stage thermolysis process. The compatibility of PDFAMO with some energetic components and inert materials used in polymer‐bonded explosives (PBXs) and solid propellants was studied by DSC. It was concluded that the binary systems of PDFAMO with cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4‐dinitroanisole (DNAN), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), ammonium perchlorate (AP), aluminum powder (Al), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) and 1,3‐diethyl‐1,3‐diphenyl urea (C₁) were compatible, whereas the systems of PDFAMO with lead carbonate (PbCO₃) and 2‐nitrodiphenylamine (NDPA) were slightly sensitized. The systems with cyclotetramethylenetetranitroamine (HMX), hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL‐20), 3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one (NTO), ammonium nitrate (AN), magnesium powder (Mg), boron powder (B), carbon black (C. B.), diphenylamine (DPA), and p‐nitro‐N‐methylamine (PNMA) were incompatible. The results of compatibility studies fully supported the suggested thermal decomposition mechanism of PDFAMO.     

Thermal Behavior and Specific Heat Capacity of 1‐t‐Butyl‐3,3‐dinitroazetidinium Perchlorate

1‐t‐Butyl‐3,3‐dinitroazetidinium perchlorate (TDNAZ ⋅ HClO₄) was synthesized, DSC and TG/DTG methods were used to study the thermal behavior of TDNAZ⋅HClO₄ under a non–isothermal condition. The intense exothermic decomposition process of DSC curves were analyzed to obtain its kinetic parameters. Continuous specific heat capacity (C _p) mode of micro–calorimeter was used to determine its C _p, its specific molar heat capacity (C _{p ,m}) was 365.70 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 298.15 K. The self‐accelerating decomposition temperature (T _SADT), thermal ignition temperature (T _TIT), and critical temperature of thermal explosion (T _b) were obtained to evaluate its thermal stability and safety. The above results of TDNAZ ⋅ HClO₄ were compared with those of 3,3‐dinitroazetidinium perchlorate (DNAZ ⋅ HClO₄), and the effect of tert‐butyl group on them was discussed.     

Studies on Energetic Compounds Part 23: Preparation,Thermal and Explosive Characteristics of Transition Metal Salts of 5‐Nitro‐2,4‐Dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐Triazole‐3‐One (NTO)

Five transition metal salts of 5‐nitro‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐one, [namely M(NTO)_n⋅mH₂O where M is Ag, Hg, Cd, Cr, Fe where n=1,2,2,3,3 and m=1,2,2,8,2 respectively] were prepared and characterized (hereafter these compounds will be named as AgNTO, HgNTO, CdNTO, CrNTO and FeNTO, respectively). Their thermal decomposition was investigated by TG, DTA whereas explosive behaviour has been studied in terms of explosion delay, impact and friction sensitivities. Further, kinetic parameters have been derived using non‐isothermal TG data and mechanism of thermolysis has also been proposed. It seems that dehydration takes place prior to the evolution of NO₂ and the subsequent ring rupture yielding metal oxide. AgNTO on the other hand yields metallic silver. Dehydration in the case of HgNTO occurs in two steps: at each step one molecule is lost. All the salts are insensitive to impact and at the same time insensitive to friction up to 360 N.     

Study of the Heat and Kinetics of Nitration of 1,2,4‐Triazol‐5‐one (TO)

The heat effects of the nitration and dissolution processes of 1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one (TO) in acidic environments were measured by differential reaction calorimetry. The kinetics of nitration of TO in a 200‐mL reactor were investigated by UV/Vis spectroscopy. Temperature changes were measured in a 10‐L batch reactor during the TO nitration. A model of kinetics for the synthesis of 3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one (NTO) was proposed and it was used to simulate the phenomena occurring in the calorimeter and in the reactors. The experimental data were compared with modeling results and parameters of the Arrhenius equation for synthesis of NTO with selected nitration mixtures were determined.     

Preparation,Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of Nanosized NiO and ZnO: Part 74

Nanocrystals of NiO and ZnO were prepared by a novel refluxing method and characterized by XRD and TEM. The average particles size of NiO and ZnO were found to be 6 and 31 nm, respectively, from the XRD patterns. These Transition Metal Oxide Nanocrystals (TMONs) were found to catalyze the thermal decomposition of 5‐nitro‐1, 2, 4‐triazol‐3‐one (NTO). Between the two TMOs, ZnO was found to have better catalytic activity than NiO. Kinetic parameters for the isothermal decomposition of NTO in presence and absence of these metal oxides were obtained using a model‐free isoconversional method. The activation energy for NTO, NTO+1 %NiO, and NTO+1 %ZnO was found to be 60.1, 52.1, and 47.9 kJ mol⁻¹ and a similar order was found from the explosion studies (36.1, 31.6, and 27.4 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively).     

Thermal Decomposition of NTO: An Explanation of the High Activation Energy

Burning rate characteristics of the low‐sensitivity explosive 5‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐one (NTO) have been investigated in the pressure interval of 0.1–40 MPa. The temperature distribution in the combustion wave of NTO has been measured at pressures of 0.4–2.1 MPa. Based on burning rate and thermocouple measurements, rate constants of NTO decomposition in the molten layer at 370–425 °C have been derived from a condensed‐phase combustion model (k=8.08⋅10¹³⋅exp(−19420/T) s⁻¹. NTO vapor pressure above the liquid (ln P=−9914.4/T+14.82) and solid phases (ln P=−12984.4/T+20.48) has been calculated. Decomposition rates of NTO at low temperatures have been defined more exactly and it has been shown that in the interval of 180–230 °C the decomposition of solid NTO is described by the following expression: k=2.9⋅10¹²⋅exp(−20680/T). Taking into account the vapor pressure data obtained, the decomposition of NTO in the gas phase at 240–250 °C has been studied. Decomposition rate constants in the gaseous phase have been found to be comparable with rate constants in the solid state. Therefore, a partial decomposition in the gas cannot substantially increase the total rate. High values of the activation energy for solid‐state decomposition of NTO are not likely to be connected with a sub‐melting effect, because decomposition occurs at temperatures well below the melting point. It has been suggested that the abnormally high activation energy in the interval of 230–270 °C is a consequence of peculiarities of the NTO transitional process rather than strong bonds in the molecule. In this area, the NTO molecule undergoes isomerization into the aci‐form, followed by C3‐N2 heterocyclic bond rupture. Both processes depend on temperature, resulting in an abnormally high value of the observed activation energy.     

Synthesis and Energetic Properties of Imidazolium and 2‐Methylimidazolium Salts of 3‐Nitro‐1,2,4‐Triazol‐5‐One

Two new energetic salts of 3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one (NTO) were described. Imidazole and 2‐methylimidazole salt of NTO decomposes exothermically at 217 and 258 °C respectively. Detonation parameters calculated for 2‐methylimidazole salt are significantly smaller than that of 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) but these parameters estimated for imidazole salt are comparable with that of TNT. Structure of new compounds were investigated with NMR and IR spectroscopy. Impact and friction sensitivity determined for new compounds are smaller than for pure NTO, so they are more safe during handling.     

A DFT Study on the Structures and Energies of Isomers of 4‐Amino‐1,3‐dinitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one‐2‐oxide: New High Energy Density Compounds

Isomers of 4‐amino‐1,3‐dinitrotriazol‐5‐one‐2‐oxide (ADNTONO) are of interest in the contest of insensitive explosives and were found to have true local energy minima at the DFT‐B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVDZ level. The optimized structures, vibrational frequencies and thermodynamic values for triazol‐5‐one N‐oxides were obtained in their ground state. Kamlet‐Jacob equations were used to evaluate the performance properties. The detonation properties of ADNTONO (D=10.15 to 10.46 km s⁻¹, P=50.86 to 54.25 GPa) are higher compared with those of 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethylene (D=8.87 km s⁻¹, P=32.75 GPa), 5‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐one (D=8.56 km s⁻¹, P=31.12 GPa), 1,2,4,5‐tetrazine‐3,6‐diamine‐1,4‐dioxide (D=8.78 km s⁻¹, P=31.0 GPa), 1‐amino‐3,4,5‐trinitropyrazole (D=9.31 km s⁻¹, P=40.13 GPa), 4,4′‐dinitro‐3,3′‐bifurazan (D=8.80 km s⁻¹, P=35.60 GPa) and 3,4‐bis(3‐nitrofurazan‐4‐yl)furoxan (D=9.25 km s⁻¹, P=39.54 GPa). The  NH₂ group(s) appears to be particularly promising area for investigation since it may lead to two desirable consequences of higher stability (insensitivity), higher density, and thus detonation velocity and pressure.     

Dinitrophenyl Triazoles – “A Class of Energetic Azoles”: Synthesis,Characterisation, and Performance Evaluation Studies

Energetic azoles have shown great potential as powerful energetic molecules, which find various applications in both military and civilian fields. This work describes the synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation of two energetic triazole derivatives, viz. N‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)‐3‐nitro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 1a ) and N‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)‐3‐azido‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 1b ). The compounds were synthesized from 3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazole and 3‐azido‐1,2,4‐triazole, by a simple synthetic route and structurally characterized using FT‐IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C) spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis. Thermal analyses on the molecules were performed using simultaneous TG‐DTA. Both compounds ( 1a , 1b ) showed good thermal stability with exothermic decomposition peaks at 348 °C and 217 °C, respectively, on DTA. The energetic and sensitivity properties of both compounds like friction sensitivities and heats of formation are reported. The heats of combustion at constant volume were determined using oxygen bomb calorimetry and the results were used to calculate the standard molar heats of formation (Δ_fH^m). The azido derivative ( 1b ) showed a higher positive heat of formation. The thermo‐chemical properties of the compounds as well as the thermal decomposition products were predicted using the REAL thermodynamic code.     

High‐Temperature Structural Transformations of 1,1‐Diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethene (FOX‐7)

Stuctural transformations of 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethene (FOX‐7) were investigated in the temperature range 298–513 K by means of DSC, TG, isothermal calorimetry, PXRD, IR spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The data obtained confirm the existence of the high‐temperature δ‐FOX‐7 polymorph stable above 480 K. The heat effect of the γ→δ transformation is − 4.6 J g⁻¹ (−680 J mol⁻¹). Metastable γ‐phase formed in the reverse process δ→γ has a perfect crystal structure and is stable towards thermal decomposition. Possible mechanisms of sharp deceleration of thermal decomposition of FOX‐7 at the 40 % conversion are discussed.     

Hermetic Thermal Behavior of 3,4‐Diaminofurazan (DAF)

Hermetic thermal behavior of 3,4‐diaminofurazan (DAF) was studied by DSC method with special high‐pressure hermetic crucibles. The complete exothermic decomposition process of DAF can be provided. The extrapolated onset temperature, peak temperature, and enthalpy of decomposition at a heating rate of 10 K min⁻¹ are 238.7 °C, 253.0 °C, and −1986 J g⁻¹, respectively. Self‐accelerating decomposition temperature and critical temperature of thermal explosion of DAF are 232.3 and 253.1 °C, respectively. Specific heat capacity of DAF was determined with a micro DSC method and the molar heat capacity is 140.78 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 298.15 K. Adiabatic time‐to‐explosion of DAF is about 90 s. The thermal stability of DAF is good.     

Thermal Stability Studies Comparing IMX‐101 (Dinitroanisole/Nitroguanidine/NTO) to Analogous Formulations Containing Dinitrotoluene

The 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) replacement, IMX‐101, containing 43.5 % 2,4‐dinitroanisole (DNAN), 19.7 % 3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one (NTO) and 36.8 % nitro‐guanidine (NQ), has been certified for use as an insensitive munition. IMX‐101 has passed standardized performance, stability, and aging tests but in some categories was not necessarily an improvement over TNT or RDX. This study compared the thermal stability of DNAN and another low‐melting nitroarene, 2,4‐dinitrotoulene (DNT). When examined individually, DNAN was more stable; but formulated in IMX‐101 with NTO and NQ, the opposite was true. In two part mixtures, NQ had a similar acceleratory effect on the decomposition of both nitroarenes, while NTO had a greater impact on DNAN than on NTO. Ammonia, a reported decomposition product of both NQ and NTO, also accelerated the decomposition of both DNAN and DNT, with a larger impact on DNAN. The formation of dinitroaniline, potentially due to the interaction between the nitroarenes and ammonia, was detected by LC/MS as a decomposition product when either nitroarene was combined with NTO and/or NQ, indicating that this molecule may play a significant role in the decomposition mechanism. While not advocating the use of DNT in insensitive munitions formulations, this study addresses the importance of chemical compatibility as a criterion for selecting replacement components in formulations.     

Investigation on the Reaction of Powdered Tin as a Metallic Fuel with Some Pyrotechnic Oxidizers

Thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to examine the thermal behavior of Sn+KClO₃, Sn+KNO₃, and Sn+KClO₄ pyrotechnic systems and the results were compared with thermal characteristics of individual constituents. TG curves for tin powder, heated alone in air, showed a relatively slow oxidation above 570 °C. From thermal results the decomposition temperatures of KClO₃, KClO₄, and KNO₃, in nitrogen atmosphere, were measured at 472, 592 and 700 °C, respectively. For the Sn+KNO₃ pyrotechnic system, the tin oxidation was completed within the range of 480 to 500 °C. Replacing KNO₃ with KClO₄ led to an increase of thermal stability of the pyrotechnic mixture. Among above‐mentioned pyrotechnic mixtures, Sn+KClO₃ has the lowest ignition temperature at about 390 °C. The apparent activation energy (E), ΔG^#, ΔH^# and ΔS^# of the combustion processes were obtained from the DSC experiments. Based on these kinetic data and ignition temperatures, the relative reactivity of these mixtures was found to obey in the following order: Sn+KClO₃>Sn+KNO₃>Sn+KClO₄.     

Chemical Kinetics of the Thermal Decomposition of NTO

The kinetics of thermal decomposition of 3‐nitro‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one (NTO) in the temperature interval from 200 °C to 260 °C was investigated using a glass Bourdon gauge. The overall decomposition reaction includes two distinct stages: the fast first‐order decomposition and the subsequent autocatalytic reaction. The importance of the first stage increases with increasing decomposition temperature and decreasing loading density of the Bourdon gauge (m/V). A period of preliminary heating, at a lower temperature, strongly influences the autocatalytic stage when the decomposition is carried out at a higher temperature. In the temperature domain 200–220 °C, the Arrhenius constants of the decomposition reaction are found to be close to the values usually observed for nitrocompounds: E=173 kJ/mol and log₁₀ k≈12.5 (s⁻¹). It is shown that a simple model of NTO decomposition based on an autocatalytic reaction of the m‐th order can describe the course of the decomposition at high temperature but the m number appears to be excessively high, up to 4. A new model of the decomposition is developed, including an initial monomolecular reaction, decomposition of the crystalline substance, and an autocatalytic reaction of NTO dissolved in liquid decomposition products. This model gives the common order of autocatalysis, m=1.     

Non‐Isothermal Decomposition Kinetics,Heat Capacity,and Thermal Safety of 2‐Nitroimino‐5‐Nitro‐Hexahydro‐1,3,5‐Triazine (NNHT)

The kinetic equation describing the thermal decomposition reaction of NNHT obtained by TG‐DTG data, integral isoconversional non‐linear method and integral method of treating TG‐DTG curves is . The specific heat capacity (C_p) of NNHT was determined with the continuous C_p mode of the microcalorimeter. The equation of C_p (T) was obtained. The standard molar heat capacity of NNHT was 218.41 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 298.15 K. With the help of the onset temperature (T_e) and maximum peak temperature (T_p) from the non‐isothermal DTG curves of NNHT at different heating rates (β), the apparent activation energy (E_K and E_O), and the pre‐exponential constant (A_K) of the thermal decomposition reaction obtained by Kissinger’s method and Ozawa’s method, C_p obtained by microcalorimetry, density (ρ) and thermal conductivity (λ), the decomposition heat (Q_d, taking half‐explosion heat), Zhang‐Hu‐Xie‐Li’s formula, Smith’s equation, Friedman’s formula, Bruckman‐Guillet’s formula, and Wang‐Du’s formulas, the values (T_e0 and T_p0) of T_e and T_p corresponding to β→0, thermal explosion temperature (T_be and T_bp), adiabatic time‐to‐explosion (t_TIad), 50 % drop height (H₅₀) of impact sensitivity, critical temperature of hot‐spot initiation (T_cr), thermal sensitivity probability density function [S(T)] versus temperature (T) relation curves for spheroidic NNHT with radius of 1 m surrounded with ambient temperature of 300 K, peak temperature corresponding to the maximum value of S(T) versus T relation curve ( ), safety degree (SD), and critical ambient temperature(T_acr) of thermal explosion of NNHT are calculated. The following results of evaluating the thermal safety of NNHT are obtained: T_SADT=T_e0=453.34 K, T_SADT=T_p0=454.86 K, T_be=462.68 K, T_bp=467.22 K, t_TIad=1.03 s, H₅₀=17.69 cm, T_α=461.4 K. SD=72.74 %, P_TE=27.26 %, and T_acr=321.96 K.     

Single Step Synthesis of Nitro‐Functionalized Hydroxyl‐Terminated Polybutadiene

The paper reports the energization of Hydroxyl‐Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) by functionalizing explosophore  NO₂ over the HTPB backbone, resulting in the formation of conjugated nitro‐alkene derivative of HTPB. A convenient, inexpensive and efficient “one pot” procedure of synthesizing Nitro‐Functionalized Hydroxyl‐Terminated Polybutadiene (Nitro‐HTPB) is reported. The reaction was carried out with sodium nitrite and iodine. To retain the unique physico‐chemical properties of HTPB, functionalization by  NO₂ group was restricted to 10 to 15 % of double bonds. The Nitro‐HTPB was characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, VPO, DSC, TGA etc. The polymer has shown good thermal stability for practical applications. The kinetic parameters for the decomposition of Nitro‐HTPB at 150–300 °C were obtained from non‐isothermal DSC data.     

Crystallization kinetics and melting behaviour of microbial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)

Isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization kinetics of microbial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) [P(3HB‐3HHx)] was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and ¹³C solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Avrami analysis was performed to obtain the kinetic parameters of primary crystallization. The results showed that the Avrami equation was suitable for describing the isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization processes of P(3HB‐3HHx). The equilibrium melting temperature of P(3HB‐3HHx) and its nucleation constant of crystal growth kinetics, which were obtained by using the Hoffman–Weeks equation and the Lauritzen–Hoffmann model, were, respectively, 121.8 °C and 2.87 × 10⁵ K² when using the empirical ‘universal’ values of U* = 1500 cal mol^?1. During the heating process, the melting behaviour of P(3HB‐3HHx) for both isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization showed multiple melting peaks, which was the result of melting recrystallization. The lower melting peak resulted from the melting of crystals formed during the corresponding crystallization process, while the higher melting peak resulted from the recrystallization that took place during the heating process. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thermo‐oxidative decomposition kinetics of elastomeric composites based on styrene‐(ethylene‐butylene)‐styrene triblock copolymer and organomontmorillonite

The elastomeric nanocomposites based on organomontmorillonite (OMMT) and styrene‐(ethylene‐butylene)‐styrene (SEBS) thermoplastic elastomer were prepared by melt processing using maleic anhydride grafted SEBS (SEBS‐g‐MA) as compatibilizer. Thermo‐oxidative decomposition behavior of the neat components and the nanocomposites were investigated using thermogravimertic analysis (TGA) in air atmosphere. The isoconversional method is employed to study the kinetics of thermo‐oxidative degradation. The heating modes and the composition of nanocomposites were found to affect the kinetic parameters (E_a, lnA and n). The E_a and lnA values of SEBS, OMMT, and their composites are much higher under dynamic heating than under isothermal heating. The reaction order (n) of OMMT was lower than those of SEBS and their composites. The obtained TG profiles and calculated kinetic parameters indicated that the incorporation of OMMT into SEBS significantly improved the thermal stability both under dynamic heating and under isothermal heating. The simultaneously obtained DSC data showed that the enthalpy of thermal decomposition decreased with OMMT loading. No significant change in the nonisothermal and isothermal stability of the nanocomposites with addition of SEBS‐g‐MA. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis,characterization, thermal stability,and compatibility properties of poly(vinyl p‐nitrobenzal acetal)‐g‐polyglycidylazides

A series of energetic polymers, poly(vinyl p‐nitrobenzal acetal)‐g‐polyglycidylazides (PVPNB‐g‐GAPs), are obtained via cross‐linking reactions of poly(vinyl p‐nitrobenzal acetal) (PVPNB) with four different molecular weights polyglycidylazides (GAPs) using toluene diisocyanate as cross‐linking agent. The structures of the energetic polymers are characterized by ultraviolet visible spectra (UV‐Vis), attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FT‐IR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (¹H NMR), and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (¹³C NMR). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is applied to evaluate the glass‐transition temperature of the polymers. DSC traces illustrate that PVPNB‐g?2^#GAP, PVPNB‐g?3^#GAP, and PVPNB‐g?4^#GAP have two distinct glass‐transition temperatures, whereas PVPNB‐g?1^#GAP has one. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) are used to evaluate the thermal decomposition behavior of the four polymers and their compatibility with the main energetic components of TNT‐based melt‐cast explosives, such as cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX), cyclotrimethylene‐trinitramine (RDX), triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB), and 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT). The DTA and TGA curves obtained indicate that the polymers have excellent resistance to thermal decomposition up to 200°C. PVPNB‐g?4^#GAP also exhibits good compatibility and could be safely used with TNT, HMX, and TATB but not with RDX. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42126.