Effects of nano-CuO particles on thermal decomposition behavior and decomposition mechanism of BAMO–GAP copolymer

•Thermal decomposition behaviors of BAMO–GAP with or without nano-CuO were studied.•Nano-CuO made more N2 be released in process of thermal decomposition of BAMO–GAP copolymer.•Mechanism about effect of nano-CuO on decomposition of BAMO–GAP was discussed.

The effects of nano-CuO particles on thermal decomposition behavior of the copolymer of 3,3′-bis(azidomethy) oxetane and glycidyl azide polymer (BAMO–GAP) were investigated by employing DSC–TG–FTIR–MS coupling technique. The results showed that, when the nano-CuO was dispersed into the BAMO–GAP copolymer, the thermal decomposition temperatures of copolymer was decreased, the apparent activation energy was decreased by 11.2 kJ mol−1 and the apparent decomposition heat increased by maximum 12%. The major gaseous products of BAMO–GAP copolymer and BAMO–GAP/CuO were identified. It was suggested that nano-CuO enhanced the NN bond breaking in azido groups and more N2 was released. Namely, nano-CuO is a marked kind of catalyst, which has a crucial effect on thermal decomposition of BAMO–GAP copolymer.