Effect of Transition Metal Oxides on Decomposition and Deflagration of Composite Solid Propellant Systems: A Survey

Abstract

Introduction T metal oxides (TMO) like Fe2O3, CuO, MnO2, CuCr2O4, etc., form a very popular group of catalysts for burning rate modification of composite solid propellants. Although it is well known that these oxides affect the decomposition characteristics of polymers and oxidizers like ammonium perchlorate (AP)' and potassium perchlorate, (KP) the exact mechanism of the effect on solid propellants is by no means clear even today. Much fragmentary literature is available on the effect of these oxides on propellant burning and decomposition, oxidizer burning and decomposition, and sandwich and condensed mixture combustion. It is the purpose of this review to bring the material together so that a comprehensive picture can be drawn of the mechanism of the action of these catalysts. It may be mentioned here that these oxides also catalyze hydrocarbon oxidation reactions by inducing free radical decomposition of hydroperoxides (formed by the contact of oxidizer and hydrocarbon).