Ferric oxide colloid: novel nanocatalyst for heterocyclic nitramines

Highly energetic nitramines such as cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine (HMX) experience high combustion enthalpy, as well as large volume of gaseous products. Despite the fact that HMX can expose high thermal stability, it exposes low sensitivity to different catalysts. HMX-based propellants will combust at low burning rate. Ferric oxide particles with hydrous surface can offer high catalyzing ability via release of active (OH)-O-. radicals; active (OH)-O-. species would attack heterocyclic ring with hydrogen atom abstraction. Highly crystalline, monodispersed Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) of 3.39 nm average particle sizes were developed using hydrothermal processing. Fe(2)O(3)NPs were integrated into HMX via co-precipitation technique. The impact of Fe(2)O(3)NPs (1 wt%) on HMX thermolysis was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Fe(2)O(3)NPs demonstrated advanced catalytic performance. HMX main exothermic decomposition peak was decreased by 13.0 degrees C with an increase in decomposition enthalpy by 72.2%. Fe(2)O(3)NPs could alter HMX thermolysis from C-N cleavage to hydrogen atom abstraction through the released active surface (OH)-O-. radical. Additionally released NO2 could be adsorbed on nanocatalyst surface offering high decomposition enthalpy.

Automated summary

The impact of Fe(2)O(3)NPs on the thermolysis of HMX was investigated, and it was found that Fe(2)O(3)NPs demonstrated advanced catalytic performance, altering the thermolysis pathway of HMX.