Experimental investigation on combustion behaviors and reaction mechanisms for 5-aminotetrazole solid propellant with nanosized metal oxide additives under elevated pressure conditions

Abstract

5-AT/Sr(NO3)2 based composite propellants have been applied in fire extinguishing fields as novel power source for several years due to its high thermal stability and large gas production, but the disadvantage of poor combustion stability still indeed to improve. In this study, the influential mechanism of two common burning modifier, nanosized Copper oxide (nano-CuO) and nanosized Zinc oxide (nano-ZnO), on the thermal behavior and combustion characteristics under high pressure of 5-AT based composite propellant was deeply investigated. Simultaneous thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) have been used to identify the changes in the thermal and kinetic behavior of the catalyzed composite propellant. Thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR) analysis and pyrolysis-gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) analysis were employed to characterize the composition of evolved gas in propellant decomposition process. Combined with results of the combustion characteristics measurement conducted on a strand burner (1–5 MPa), different kinds of influential mechanisms of these two catalysts on decomposition process and combustion process under elevated pressure conditions were proposed based on presumed physical combustion model. Outcomes of this study will contribute to the design of 5-aminotetrazole solid propellant with a superior combustion property under high pressure, and promote its application into fire-fighting area.