In situ formation of MxOy nano-catalysts (M = Mn, Fe) to diminish decomposition temperature and enhance heat liberation of ammonium perchlorate

In order to reduce thermal decomposition temperature and enhance the decomposition enthalpy of ammonium perchlorate (AP) in solid fuels, metal spinel nano-catalysts (M3O4, M = Mn, Fe) were prepared simultaneous with AP thermal decomposition, using metal oxalates dihydrate (MC2O4 center dot 2H(2)O). The catalytic effect of nano-particles on AP thermal decomposition was studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) and Thermo Gravimetric (TG) analysis, which showed a decrease in the decomposition temperature from 428 degrees C to 311 degrees C for MnC2O4 center dot 2H(2)O in one step, whereas for FeC2O4 center dot 2H(2)O the thermal decomposition occurred in two steps at 294 degrees C and 393 degrees C respectively. The activation energy of pure AP, MnC2O4 center dot 2H(2)O@AP and FeC2O4 center dot 2H(2)O@AP were investigated under non-isothermal conditions. Two model-free methods such as Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) were used to determine the E-a,E-alpha on a conversion fraction of alpha = 0.05 until 0.95. The results showed that both methods led to similar values of E-a,E-alpha, and they are in agreement with each other. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.