Microwave Synthesis of triethylene glycol diazide (TEGDA): Advanced Approaches and Characterization

Abstract. Plasticizers are essential components in composite energetic materials to improve the mechanical properties, lower the glass transition temperature and improve the processability of propellants and explosives. In this area, energetic plasticizers are specific compounds because they usually have positive heat of formations and therefore increase the energy content of the formulation. An example of such an energetic plasticizer is the azido-functionalized plasticizer TEGDA, which is also known as bisazido triethylene glycol (BATEG) or 1,2-bis(2-azidoethoxy)ethane (BAEE). It is commonly synthesized in batch reactions from its corresponding chloride through reaction with sodium azide with a phase transfer catalyst in water. To improve the efficiency of the reaction in terms of reaction time and yield and to avoid unwanted by‑products, the TEGDA synthesis in this study was carried out in a microwave chamber. The differences between two different reaction routes were investigated and the thermal stability of the products was characterized.