Nanochromates MCr2O4 (M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn): Preparation, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity on the Thermal Decomposition of Fine AP and CL-20

The chromate nanoparticles such as CoCr 2 O 4 , NiCr 2 O 4 , CuCr 2 O 4 , and ZnCr 2 O 4 were prepared by a modified sol-gel method. The structural and morphological properties of the chromate nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The catalytic effects of chromates on the thermal decomposition of fine ammonium perchlorate (FAP) and hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) were studied by the TG-DTG measurements. Results show that the addition of CoCr 2 O 4 , NiCr 2 O 4 , CuCr 2 O 4 , and ZnCr 2 O 4 nanoparticles makes the activation energies for the thermal decomposition of FAP decrease by 93.9, 94.0, 83.1, and 67.0 kJ·mol -1 , and the thermal decomposition temperatures decrease by 45.0, 24.9, 57.7, and 38.8 K respectively. On the other hand, a similar trend exists in the case of the thermal decomposition of CL-20. Therefore, the addition of nanochromates shows high catalytic efficiency on the thermal decomposition of both FAP and CL-20 components, which would be beneficial to promote the burning rate of propellants containing FAP and CL-20 components.