Layered magnesium diboride and its derivatives as potential catalytic and energetic additives for tuning the exothermicity of ammonium perchlorate

• Published in: Thermochimica acta Vol. 690; p. 178674
• Main Authors: Gunda, Harini, Ghoroi, Chinmay, Jasuja, Kabeer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2020
• Subjects: Ammonium perchlorate; Catalytic additive; Composite solid propellants; Layered magnesium diboride; Composite solid propellants; Layered magnesium diboride; Catalytic additive; Ammonium perchlorate
• ISSN: 0040-6031; 1872-762X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tca.2020.178674

[Display omitted] •Layered MgB2 has the potential to serve as a catalytic and energetic fuel additive.•This potential can be further enhanced by activating MgB2 using ball milling.•Adding 1 wt. % ball-milled MgB2 increases the energy of ammonium perchlorate by 78 %.•Adding 1 wt.% ball-milled MgB2 reduces the decomposition temperature by ∼73 °C.•First study that utilizes MgB2, a conventional superconductor, as a fuel additive. In this article, we studied the effect of layered magnesium diboride (LMDB) and its micro and nano derivatives as catalytic and energetic additives towards the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). We synthesized micro derivatives by mechanical activation of MgB2 using ball milling and nano derivatives by dissolution recrystallization method. The mechanically activated MgB2 (MA-MgB2) showed better performance than pristine MgB2 (P-MgB2) and boron-based nanosheets (NSs) on improving the thermal decomposition characteristics of AP. Addition of one wt. % of MA-MgB2 to AP remarkably enhances the energy release by 78 % and significantly reduces the decomposition temperature by ∼73 °C. Using the isoconversional method, we obtained activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and reaction model of AP and AP + 1%MA-MgB2. The MA-MgB2 performs much better than many other catalysts at similar loadings. This study provides a newer perspective to utilize the untapped potential of metal diborides and their derivatives for composite solid propellants.