Examining the impact of nano-sized Litharge, Tenorite, and Hematite on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate-based cross-linked composite modified double base propellant

This study aims to compare the catalytic effects of three nano-metal oxides (nMOs); Litharge (alpha-PbO), Tenorite (CuO), and Hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) on the thermal decomposition of an ammonium perchlorate based cross-linked composite modified double base propellant (AP-XLCMDBP). The three nMOs are synthesized via a chemical precipitation method and then characterized using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. Their effect on the thermal decomposition of AP-XLCMDBP is studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The results indicate that Litharge has no significant effect on the thermal decomposition of AP-XLCMDBP. However, both Tenorite and Hematite nanocatalysts accelerate the thermolysis process and enhance the total heat released from AP-XLCMDBP. Moreover, compared to Tenorite, Hematite nanoparticles are found to be a more efficient catalyst, where their presence in AP-XLCMDBP leads to a significant decrease in activation energies of the first and the second decomposition stages by 13.67 kJ/mol and 17.57 kJ/mol, respectively. An increase of the total decomposition heat by 153.73 J/g is also attained in the presence of Hematite, displaying its high catalytic action on the thermal decomposition of AP-XLCMDBP.