The Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate-Aluminum Propellants in Presence of Metallic Zinc Particles
- 1 Institute of Metallurgy, UASLP, San Luis Potosi, México
- 2 INIDETAM, Polígono Naval, Antón Lizardo, Veracruz, México
- 3 INIDETAM, Polígono Naval, Antón Lizardo, Veracruz, México
- 4 Faculty of Chemistry, UASLP, San Luis Potosi, México
- 5 Institute of Metallurgy, UASLP, San Luis Potosi, México
Abstract
The thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) with Al and Zn metallic particles was studied at different heating rates in dry air atmosphere and the combustion behavior of AP/Al/Zn propellant was evaluated. The exothermic reaction kinetics was studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA) in non-isothermal conditions and compare with the thermal decomposition of pure AP and AP/aluminum particles analyzed in the same experimental conditions. The Arrhenius parameters were estimated according to the Ozawa and Kissinger methods. The calculated activation energies for the low and high temperature exothermic reactions were 91 and 229 kJ/mol for pure AP, 90 and 112 kJ/mol for 80 wt% AP/20 wt% Al particles. When zinc was incorporated, activation energy of 56 kJ/mol was determined for the only exothermic peak observed for 90 wt% AP/10 wt% Zn and 44 kJ/mol for 78.4 wt% AP/19.6 wt% Al/2 wt% Zn propellant composition.
- Davenas, A. (1993) Solid Rocket Propulsion Technology. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
- Halawy, S.A. and Al-Shihry, S.S. (1999) Role of the Acidic-Basic Characters of Some Metal Oxides in the Pyrolysis of Ammonium Perchlorate. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 55, 833-840. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010129732656
- Komarov, V.F. (1999) Catalysis and Inhibition of the Combustion of Ammonium Perchlorate Based Solid Propellants. Combustion Explosive and Shock Waves, 35, 670-683. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02674542
- Humble, R.W., Henry, G.N. and Larson, W.J. (1995) Space Propulsion Analysis and Design. McGraw-Hill, New York.
- Sutton, G.P. and Biblarz, O. (2001) Rocket Propulsion Elements. 7th Edition, John Wiley, Hoboken.
- Doll, D.W. and Lund, G.K. (1992) Magnesium Neutralized Propellant. Journal of Propulsuion and Power, 8, 1185-1191. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.11460
- Song, M., Chen, M. and Zhang, Z. (2008) Effect of Zinc Powders on the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate. Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, 33, 261-265. https://doi.org/10.1002/prep.200800222
- Chaturvedi, S. and Dave, P.N. (2013) A Review on the Use of Nanometals as Catalyst for the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate. Journal of Saudi Chemical Society, 17, 135-149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscs.2011.05.009
- Kohga, M. and Tsuzuki, H. (2010) Crystal Habit Modification of Ammonium Perchlorate by Ethylene Glycol. Advanced Powder Technology, 21, 443-447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2010.01.004
- Keenan, A.G. and Siegmund, R.F. (1969) Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate. Quarterly Review of the Chemical Society, 23, 430-452. https://doi.org/10.1039/qr9692300430
- Jacobs, P.W.M. and Whitehead, H.M. (1969) Decomposition and Combustion of Ammonium Perchlorate. Chemical Reviews, 69, 551-590. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr60260a005
- Boldyrev, V.V. (2006) Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate. Thermochimica Acta, 443, 1-36.
- Vyazovkin, S. and Wight, C.A. (1999) Kinetics of Thermal Decomposition of Cubic Ammonium Perchlorate. Chemistry of Materials, 11, 3386-3393. https://doi.org/10.1021/cm9904382
- Heath, G.A. and Majer, J.R. (1964) Mass Spectrometric Study of the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate. Transactions of the Faraday Society, 60, 1783-1791. https://doi.org/10.1039/tf9646001783