Combustion and thermal decomposition of ammonium dinitramide catalyzed by carbon nanotubes

The catalysis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanotubes supporting ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃/CNT) and carbon nanotubes supporting iron and copper (Fe·Cu/CNT) on the combustion and thermal decomposition of ammonium dinitramide (ADN) were investigated through burning rate measurements and TG analysis. Results show that all three catalysts increase the burning rate of ADN. The burning rates are related to combustion pressure by a power function and the pressure exponents decrease with the amount of catalyst for all of the three catalysts. When 3mass% of catalyst is used the burning rate of ADN at 4 MPa increases from 30.49 to 50.59, 39.72 and 38.79 mm·s^-1 and the pressure exponents decrease from 0.81 to 0.36, 0.67 and 0.75 for the CNTs, Fe₂O₃/CNTs and Fe·Cu/CNTs respectively, TG tests show that all three catalysts decrease the thermal decomposition temperature of ADN. The primary thermal decomposition temperatures of ADN decrease to 18.3°C, 12.1°C, and 11.6°C for the CNTs, Fe₂O₃/CNTs and Fe·Cu/CNTs respectively when 1mass% catalyst was added to ADN.