EFFECT OF IRON-CONTAINING CATALYSTS ON THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF CUREDGAP-AP PROPELLANTS

The effects of various burning rate catalysts on thermal decomposition of cured glycidyl azide polymer (GAP)-ammonium perchlorate (AP) prope llants have been studied by means of thermal analysis and a modified v acuum stability test (MVST). Four types of iron-containing catalysts e xamined in this paper are catocene, ferrocenecarboxaldehyde (FCA), fer rocene, and ferric oxide. Results of differential thermal analysis (DT A) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) revealed that the catalysts pla y an important role in the decomposition of both AP and GAP. The peak decomposition temperature (T-m) of DTA curves and onset decomposition temperature (T-o) of TG patterns considerably shifted to a lower tempe rature as the concentration of catalysts increased in the propellants. The endothermic temperature of AP, however, is unaffected by the pres ence of burning sate catalysts in all cases. The activation energy of decomposition of the propellants in range of 80 to 120 degrees C is de termined, based on the MVST results.