Catalytic action of carbon nanotubes on ammonium perchlorate thermal behavior

This work focuses on the catalytic activity of ammonium perchlorate (AP) through the encapsulation technique using the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and the multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs). Encapsulation process took place utilizing a revised approach of the fast-crash solvent-antisolvent method. Particle shape and size were characterized using EDX and SEM, while the thermal behavior of AP/SWCNTs and AP/MWCNTs composite particles was evaluated using DSC together with TGA. The TGA data were applied for quantifying the AP activation energy using the Kissinger method and was confirmed through the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) method. The obtained encapsulated AP showed a significant reduction in the decomposition temperature and a major increase in the overall heat release of AP. Also, kinetics study data showed that encapsulated AP possessed lower activation energy in comparison to that of the pure AP. These results established that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could be a promising innovative catalyst that has a straightforward impact on the ammonium perchlorate thermal activity, thus affects the thermal behavior and performance of the rocket propellant formulations.