Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Dinitramide (ADN) as Green Energy Source for Space Propulsion

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of an ammonium dinitramide-based energetic compound was conducted for the first time using a dispersive inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, DTA-TG analysis, and pyrolysis at a constant temperature. A liquid droplet was injected over synthesized CuO catalytic particles deposited on lanthanum oxide-doped alumina. The thermal behavior of the ADN liquid monopropellant revealed that decomposition in the presence of catalytic particles occurs in two distinct steps, with the majority of ejected gases being detected in real-time analysis using the DIP-MS technique. At a temperature of 280 °C, pyrolysis confirmed the catalytic decomposition behavior of ADN, which occurred in two distinct steps.

Performance Evaluation of Ammonium Dinitramide-Based Monopropellant in a 1N Thruster

“…Hydrazine, the traditional propellant, has good performance but produces toxic vapor, is carcinogenic, and poses risks to both humans and the environment. In recognition of the advantages of ADN-based propellants, extensive research has been undertaken in the past decades [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. This has led to several companies, such as ECAPS, the Lithuanian company, Nano-Avionics, Beijing Institute of Control Engineering (BICE), etc., continuously commercializing green propulsion systems for satellites [4,18].…”