Effect of core-shell structure of MgAl-CuO nanothermite coated with potassium perchlorate on the thermo-kinetic behavior of NC/DEGDN composite

ABSTRACT

In this study, a core-shell structure of MgAl-CuO nanothermite coated with ammonium perchlorate (KClO₄@MgAl-CuO) has been successfully prepared by a solvent/non-solvent synthetic method, and its catalytic influence on the thermo-kinetic behavior of nitrated cellulose (NC)/diethylene glycol dinitrate (DEGDN) composite has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) combined with three isoconversional kinetic models. Beforehand, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) findings showed that the prepared KClO₄@MgAl-CuO particles were uniformly distributed within the NC/DEGDN matrix. Moreover, the obtained DSC thermograms indicated that the thermolysis of the developed NC/DEGDN composite was shifted to a lower temperature after the incorporation of the coated nanothermite. Additionally, a significant decrease in the activation energy (from approximately 136 to 94 kJ/mol) was also observed, demonstrating that the presence of the KClO₄@MgAl-CuO nanothermite catalyzed the decomposition of NC/DEGDN propellant. Therefore, this study could serve as a reference for future research on the coated metastable intermolecular composites and their effects on double-base propellants.

KEYWORDS:

• Core-shell structure
• diethylene glycol dinitrate
• nanothermite
• nitrated cellulose
• thermal kinetics

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).