Porous nanosheets of TKX-50 by ice-templating strategy with excellent thermal decomposition and combustion properties

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nanostructured energetic materials have attracted considerable research interests during the past decades because of their improved performances in thermal decomposition and combustion. In this work, a porous nanosheet structure of dihydroxylammonium 5, 5′-bistetrazole-1, 1′-diolate (TKX-50) has been fabricated by a facile ice templating strategy, which is based on the self-assembly of TKX-50 during rapid recrystallization. Thermal decomposition properties were determined by differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetry (DSC/TG) and TG-FTIR analyses. The laser-ignited and constant-volume combustions and mechanical sensitivity were conducted. As-prepared TKX-50 mainly presents porous nanosheets (NS-TKX-50) assembled by the secondary nanoparticles. NS-TKX-50 is typical of mesoporous materials with high specific surface area and pore volume. Compared with raw material, NS-TKX-50 exhibits lower thermal decomposition peak temperature and higher active energy. In thermal decomposition process, a great deal of gaseous products have been generated in a very narrow temperature range. These thermal decomposition features suggest a quick energy-release rate and high energy output. Contrary to incomplete combustion of raw material, NS-TKX-50 shows high-efficiency and self-sustaining laser-ignited combustion feature with a drastically decreased ignition threshold. And its pressurization rate and peak pressure are remarkably increased. Sensitivity results confirmed the visibly reduced impact and friction sensitivity of NS-TKX-50.