Towards Investigating the Effect of Ammonium Nitrate on the Characteristics and Thermal Decomposition Behavior of Energetic Double Base NC/DEGDN Composite

Abstract

This research work aimed to elaborate on a new modified double-base propellant containing nitrocellulose (NC), ammonium nitrate (AN), and diethylene glycol dinitrate (DEGDN). The developed AN/NC-DEGDN formulation was successfully obtained through a casting process and fully characterized in terms of its chemical structure, morphological features, and thermal behavior. Beforehand, theoretical calculation by the CEA-NASA program was applied to select the optimal composition of the formulation. Experimental findings demonstrated the homogenous dispersion of AN oxidizer in the NC-DEGDN matrix without alteration of their molecular structures. The catalytic influence of AN on the thermal decomposition behavior of NC-DEGDN film was also elucidated by thermal analyses. When AN was incorporated into the formulation, the decomposition peak temperatures for the different decomposition processes were shifted toward lower temperatures, while the total enthalpy of decomposition increased by around 1272.24 J/g. In addition, the kinetics of the thermal decomposition of the developed modified double base propellant were investigated using DSC results coupled with model kinetic approaches. It was found that the addition of AN decreases the activation energy of nitrate esters from 134.5 kJ/mol to 118.84 kJ/mol, providing evidence for its excellent catalytic effect. Overall, this investigation could serve as a reference for developing future generation of modified double-base propellants.

Comparative study of the thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate in the presence of nanocrystalline copper ferrite

“…Therefore, it is recommended to utilize a minimum of three distinct heating rates to accurately determine the various kinetic parameters associated with the decomposition process. 32–34 In a non-isothermal, isoconversion method, at a constant conversion ( α ), the reaction rate ( k ( T )) is affected by the temperature (eqn (1)): 14 where f ( α ) is the differential model.…”

“…12,13 Boukeciat et al . 14 investigated double base propellants, which consisted of 60% ammonium nitrate, 10% nitrocellulose, and 30% diethylene glycol dinitrate, to assess their thermal performance potential. The inclusion of ammonium nitrate not only lowered the activation energy of the propellant but also elevated the heat content during decomposition.…”

The effect of citrate plasticizers on the properties of nitrocellulose granules

“…A greater influence of DEGDN can be observed for the TBC modified granules, when the lowest activation energy value of the decomposition process was obtained. The activation energy of NC-DEGDN system was about 135 kJ mol À 1 [54,55]. In contrast granules containing ATEC or TBC and DEGDN were characterized by a higher activation energy than binary system NC-DEGDN.…”

Investigation of the catalytic effect of nano ferrite CoCuNiFe2O4 on the thermal decomposition behavior of ammonium nitrate

“…To overcome this disadvantage of AP and produce clean-burning propellants, AN is being tested. 1,[3][4][5] AN is a synthetic salt widely used in the chemical industry and agriculture. [6][7][8][9] The gaseous products of AN on thermal decomposition are chlorine-free and smokeless.…”

“…4 Touidjine et al 4 reported AN-based composite solid propellants containing polyurethane/nitrocellulose blends as a binder, metallic aluminum, IPDI curing agent, plasticizer, glycerin chain extender, and a silicon oil surfactant. Boukeciat et al 5 reported that AN (oxidizer)/diethylene glycol dinitrate-nitrocellulose containing double base solid propellants exhibited a lower thermal decomposition and kinetic characteristics than a diethylene glycol dinitrate-nitrocellulose composite with increased enthalpy of decomposition. AN as an oxidizer in solid propellants has been tested less because of its poor ignitability, low energy, low burning rate under low-pressure conditions, and hygroscopicity, limiting its use.…”