Analysis of the thermal behaviour of CL-20, potassium perchlorate, lithium perchlorate and their Admixtures by DSC and TG

The thermal decomposition characteristics of CL-20, potassium perchlorate (KP), lithium perchlorate (LP), a CL-20/KP mixture, and a CL-20/LP mixture were studied using thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). The DSC curves for KP exhibited three endothermic peaks and one exothermic peak. The first two endothermic peaks correspond to the rhombic-cubic transition and the fusion of KP, respectively, the third indicates the fusion of KCl, while the exothermic peak is attributed to the decomposition of KP. The DSC curves obtained from LP showed four endothermic peaks and one exothermic peak. The first two endothermic peaks indicate the loss of adsorbed water and water of crystallization, while the third and fourth are associated with the fusion of LP and LiCl, respectively; the exothermic peak is due to the decomposition of LP. The presence of KP had little effect on the thermal decomposition of CL-20 while the addition of LP increased the temperature at which CL-20 exhibits an exothermic peak. In addition, the thermal decomposition of LP appeared to be catalyzed by the presence of CL-20.