Synthesis and properties of Al-based composite applied to solid propellant

A new type of Al-based composite was prepared by using mechanical alloying method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The differences between Al-based composite and Al were compared in combustion heat, density, oxygen-consuming mass and the contribution to the energy of HTPB/AP propellant. The catalytic performance of the Al-based composite for ammonium perchlorate(AP) decomposition was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The results show that the density and oxygen consumption of Al-based composite which is mainly composed of Al and MgH₂ are 2.4763 g/cm³, 0.8908 g(O₂)/g respectively. The actual combustion heat was not less than 30000 kJ/kg, and the combustion efficiency was up to 94%. Al-based composite has good general properties. Replacing Al with Al-based composite in HTPB/AP propellant can increase the energy. Al-based composite has better catalytic activity for the thermal decomposition of AP.