Thermal Stability Analysis of the Mg/TeO₂ Ignition Composition after 180 °C Exposure

Abstract

In order to satisfy the performance requirements of the pyrotechnic ignition composition of a space mission under an extreme thermal environment, it is necessary to analyze and verify the thermal stability of magnesium/tellurium dioxide (Mg/TeO2) ignition composition at a temperature of 180 °C. The thermal stability of the ignition composition of Mg/TeO2 and its components after exposure to 180 °C for 2–10 days was studied by means of apparent morphology analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), content change analysis, and the P-t curve test. The results showed that after exposure to 180 °C for 2–10 days, no obvious changes, such as ruptures, expansion, or shrinkage, were found by optical microscope, and no changes in morphology and surface details were found by scanning electron microscope (SEM). XRD showed that no other new substance was found in the mixture except magnesium hydroxide (Mg (OH)2). DSC showed that the main reaction peak temperature of the ignition composition of Mg/TeO2 was after 500 °C and that no endothermic/exothermic reaction occurred before 380 °C. The exothermic pre-reaction took place at 381 °C to 470 °C, the weight loss ratio was within 0.71%, the content of the magnesium component varied from 0.49% to 0.90%, the peak pressure attenuation of the ignition composition of 360-mesh Mg/TeO2 was 8.07%, and the pressure rise time was basically unchanged. The results showed that the ignition composition of Mg/TeO2 had good thermal stability after exposure to 180 °C temperatures.

Keywords

• 180°C
• thermal stability
• apparent morphology
• XRD
• DSC
• content change