Properties of Mixed Crystal Coprecipitation Substances of Ammonium Nitrate and Potassium Perchlorate Prepared by the Evaporative Solvent Method

Abstract

Ammonium perchlorate (AP) has been widely used as an oxidizer in propellants and military mixed explosives in recent years. However, its high characteristic signal, environmental pollution, and poor detonation performance have prompted the industry to seek alternatives to AP. Ammonium nitrate (AN) is a suitable substitute due to its low characteristic signal, lack of pollution, and excellent detonation performance. However, its room-temperature phase transition and hygroscopicity affect its practical use. In this work, we prepared mixed crystal coprecipitation (MCC) materials of AN and potassium perchlorate (KP) using the evaporative solvent method. The characterization of AN/KP MCCs was carried out by combining TG-DSC, XRD, FT-IR, and SEM analysis, revealing that the formation of MCCs by AN and KP is due to ion exchange between the two components. AN/KP MCCs not only solve the problem of room-temperature phase transition in AN but also reduce its hygroscopicity. Furthermore, AN/KP MCCs have mechanical sensitivity, explosive performance, and specific impulse similar to pure AN, but compared to AN, AN/KP MCCs have higher density, effective oxygen content, and thermal stability. Compared with existing oxidizers AN, AP, and KP, AN/KP MCCs with high density, low sensitivity, high oxygen content, and high safety have obvious advantages and have good prospects in the application of oxidizers in solid propellants and military mixed explosives.