Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate in the Presence of Nanosized Ferric Oxide

The catalytic effect of two different sizes of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles synthesised using an electrochemical method was investigated on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) using differential scanning calorimetry as a function of catalyst concentration. The nanosized ferric oxide particles exhibited more of a catalytic effect on the thermal decomposition of AP than commercial Fe₂O₃ particles. A lowering of the high-temperature decomposition of AP by 59°C was observed after mixing with 2 Wt per cent of α-Fe₂O₃ particles with the very fine size of 3.5 nm. The mixture produced a high heat release of 4.574 kJ/g compared to 0.834 kJ/g of pure AP. The kinetic parameters were evaluated using Kissinger method. The decrease in the activation energy and increase in rate constant confirmed the catalytic activity of these nanoparticles.