Preparation of Ferrocene-Terminated Dendrimers for the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate

As a common oxidizer, ammonium perchlorate (AP) is an important component in composite solid propellants (CSPs). Ferrocene (Fc)-based compounds are often selected as burning rate catalysts (BRCs) to catalyze AP decomposition owing to their excellent catalytic behavior. However, one of the drawbacks of Fc-based BRCs is migration in CSPs. In this study, five Fc-terminated dendrimers are designed and synthesized to improve the anti-migration properties, and their chemical structures are confirmed systemically by the related spectra characterization techniques. Moreover, the redox performance, catalytic effect on AP decomposition, combustion performance, and mechanical properties in CSPs are also studied. The shapes of the prepared propellant samples are observed via scanning electron microscopy. The obtained Fc-based BRCs have good redox performance, a positive effect on promoting AP decomposition, excellent combustion catalytic performance, and good mechanical properties. Meanwhile, they have a higher anti-migration ability than catocene (Cat) and Fc. This study demonstrates that Fc-terminated dendrimers have great potential to be applied as anti-migration BRCs in CSPs.

Automated summary

In this study, five Fc-terminated dendrimers were synthesized to improve the anti-migration properties of Fc-based burning rate catalysts (BRCs) in composite solid propellants (CSPs). The chemical structures, redox performance, catalytic effect, combustion performance, and mechanical properties of the synthesized dendrimers were investigated. The results showed that the Fc-terminated dendrimers exhibited good redox performance, positive effect on AP decomposition, excellent combustion catalytic performance, good mechanical properties, and higher anti-migration ability compared to Cat and Fc. This study highlights the potential of Fc-terminated dendrimers as anti-migration BRCs in CSPs.