Energetic Polymeric Complexes Based on 1-Methyl-5-Aminotetrazole and Dicyanamide for Catalysis on the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate

Energetic catalysts combine the catalytic performance and high energy storage, thus showing application potential as composite solid propellant components. In this study, four energetic polymeric complexes, namely [Cu(MAT)DCA₂]_n (1), [Co(MAT)₂DCA₂]_n (2), [Ni(MAT)₂DCA₂]_n (3), and [Cd(MAT)₂DCA₂]_n (4) (MAT = 1-methyl-5-aminotetrazole, DCA = dicyanamide), were synthesized by a straight and simple route. These complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The thermal stability of these complexes was obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG), and the decomposition temperatures are between 195.3 and 261.7 °C. Their catalytic performances for ammonium perchlorate (AP) decomposition were confirmed by DSC. The obtained results reveal that all the complexes have catalytic performance for AP thermal decomposition. [Cu(MAT)DCA₂]_n (1) exhibits the best catalytic performance and reduces the decomposition (high-temperature) peak temperature by 110.4 °C compared to pure AP. Moreover, this complex alters the shape of the decomposition peak, which suggests that it speeds up the decomposition process and renders it more intense.