Abstract
Ageing of pyrotechnic substance, primarily fuel oxidisation, can cause changes in composition that degrade their performance. This study investigates the effect of ageing on zirconium potassium perchlorate (ZPP), a widely used NASA Standard Initiator. Although prior studies have investigated the effects of accelerated ageing on ZPP, this is the first to conduct kinetic analyses at different relative humidity (RH) levels. Here, both thermal and kinetic analyses are conducted for a variety of hygrothermal ageing cases in order to replicate the natural ageing process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results reveal that oxidant levels drop and zirconium dioxide levels rise as ZPP ages. Lower heats of reaction and increases in activation energy were also observed under the RH conditions. Calculations using van’t Hoff equation indicate that moisture shortened the lifespan of the unaged ZPP up to about 85% under extreme RH conditions, while significantly deteriorating the heat of reaction, sensitivity, and thus increased the risk of a misfire.
Highlights
As energetic materials age, their intended performance is known to significantly degrades due to oxidisation, hydrolysis, chemical reactions or structural deformations in their chemical constituents
In order to understand the effects of ageing on pyrotechnic performance, the present study examines zirconium potassium perchlorate (ZPP), a NASA Standard Initiator that is thermally stable and known to have a long shelf-life[15,16,17]
Small amounts of KClO3 and KCl were observed in the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results, even though the unaged ZPP sample consisted of more than 99% pure KClO4
Summary
Their intended performance is known to significantly degrades due to oxidisation, hydrolysis, chemical reactions or structural deformations in their chemical constituents. Some researchers have attempted to predict the effects of ageing using the accelerated ageing techniques[4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13], which can estimate the remaining life time of aged samples[9,14] These studies have not considered the fact that, in real environments, humidity is an essential component within the storing ambient. The results of both kinetic and thermal analyses under these four ageing conditions are discussed by utilising differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) It examines the changes in both the oxidants and fuel due to ageing by utilising www.nature.com/scientificreports/
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
