CATALYZED COMBUSTION OF AMMONIUM-PERCHLORATE, POLYSTYRENE AND THEIR COMPOSITE PROPELLANTS

The combustion behaviours of ammonium perchlorate (AP), polystyrene (P S) and (AP + PS) propellant have been studied thermogravimetrically us ing Ni1-xCu(x)Cr2O4 (0 less-than-or-equal-to x less-than-or-equal-to 1 ) phases as catalysts. Catalyst NiCr2O4 is found to be the most effici ent amongst all the phases for thermooxidative degradation of PS. The phase, Ni0.5Cu0.5Cr2O4 facilitates thermal decomposition of AP and pro pellant to a greater extent as compared to other phases. Effect of cat alyst in the enhancement of the combustion/burning rate of propellant is found to be through AP. The condensed phase reactions occurring at lower temperatures also affect the exothermic gaseous phase reactions at higher temperatures during the combustion of propellant.