Catalytic effects of Cu-Co* on the thermal decomposition of AN and AN/KDN based green oxidizer and propellant samples

Abstract

This paper presents the catalytic effects of Cu-Co* catalyst on the decomposition of AN and AN/KDN based oxidizer and propellant samples. Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW) iso-conversional method was used for the kinetic studies and to compute the activation energy (Ea) values for various decomposition steps of the prepared oxidizer and propellant samples in the temperature range of 50–500 °C. TG-DTG experiments were carried out for both oxidizer and propellant samples at the heating rates of 3, 5, and 10 °C/min. AN/KDN based oxidizer samples were prepared by an evaporative co-crystallization method. Citric acid sol-gel method was used for the synthesis of Cu-Co* catalyst. The propellant sample contains HTPB as the fuel binder along with other ingredients such as TDI, DOA, and Glycerol. The Cu-Co* catalyst was used as 2% by weight to the total weight of catalyzed oxidizer and propellant samples. It was observed from the present study that, Cu-Co* catalyst helps in reducing the Ea values for AN and AN based propellant samples. However, with the percentage increment of KDN in the AN crystals, Ea value increases. Further, it was observed that Cu-Co* catalyst stabilizes the initial partial decomposition of KDN. Keywords: AN, KDN, Green oxidizer, Green propellant, Catalytic effect, OFW method, Activation energy