Effect of nano-copper oxide and copper chromite on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

The catalytic effect om the thermal decomposition behavior of ammonium perchlorate (AP) of p-type nano-CuO and CuCr2O4, synthesized by an electrochemical method has been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry as a function of catalyst concentration. The nano-copper chromite (CuCr2O4) showed best catalytic effects as compared to nano-cupric oxide (CuO) in lowering the high temperature decomposition by 118 degrees C at 2 wt.-%. High heat releases of 5.430 and 3.921 kJ g(-1) were observed in the presence of nano-CuO and CuCr2O4, respectively. The kinetic parameters Were evaluated using the Kissinger method. The decrease in the activation energy and the increase in the rate constant for both the oxides confirmed the enhancement in catalytic activity of AP. A mechanism based on an electron transfer process has also been proposed for AP in the presence of nano-metal oxides.