Copper oxide alumina composite via template assisted sol–gel method for ammonium perchlorate decomposition

Abstract

The burning characteristics of solid propellants contain ammonium perchlorate (AP) as oxidizer can be modified by the addition of burn rate modifiers (BRM). Herein, we report the synthesis of a new class of BRM based on nano copper oxide (CuO) dispersed on alumina by a sol–gel method. The optimum concentration of CuO:Al2O3 was found to be 80:20 which shows highest catalytic activity for the thermal decomposition of AP due to the good dispersion of MCO over alumina thereby exposing most of the active sites, facilitating the rapid decomposition of AP.