[FTIR and thermal analysis studies of the effects of additives on thermal decomposition of AP/Al].

The mechanisms for AP of the main compositions of composite propellants with additives such as ammonium oxalate (AO), strontium carbonate (SC) and AO/SC were studied by FTIR and DSC. The analysis of FTIR shows that AO leads to a delay in the temperature for the disappearance of absorption peaks of AP. SC reacts with HClO4 from AP decomposition and produces more stabilized Sr(ClO4)2 in the condensed phase. FTIR proves the production of Sr(ClO4)2. The analysis of DSC shows that the temperature for high decomposition exothermic peak of AP with AO is increased, but there is no effect on the temperature for low decomposition exothermic peak of AP. Both the temperature for the low and high decomposition exothermic peaks of AP are increased by the addition of SC. Although the temperature for decomposition exothermic peak of AP is increased with the addition of AO/SC, the experimental result shows that SC and AO didn't produce synergetic effects for the high temperature decomposition of AP at low pressure. Based on the above experimental results, the mechanisms of inhibiting the decomposition of AP for AO and SC are discussed.