Efficient Sensitivity Reducing and Hygroscopicity Preventing of Ultra-Fine Ammonium Perchlorate for High Burning-Rate Propellants

In this research, several inert materials, including some functional carbon materials, paraffin wax and the well-known insensitive energetic material 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) were selected to reduce the undesirable high sensitivity and hygroscopicity of ultra-fine ammonium perchlorate (UF-AP) via polymer modified coating. Structure, sensitivity, thermal and hygroscopicity performances of the UF-AP based composites were systematically studied by scanning electron microscopy, sensitivity tests, thermal experiments, contact angle, and hygroscopicity analysis. The results showed that both the impact and friction sensitivity of UF-AP can be remarkably reduced, respectively, with only a small amount of 2% (in mass) desensitization agents. Meanwhile, improved thermal decomposition was gained, and the hygroscopicity can also be reduced to a large extent. Propellants containing 10% coated UF-AP in mass were processed and tested, the burning rate reached 45.7mms(-1), 50% higher compared with that of normal AP, with remarkably reduced impact sensitivity from 11.5J to 29.6J and friction sensitivity from 76% to 28%.