Compatibility assessment and decomposition kinetics of nitrocellulose with eutectic mixture of organic stabilizers

Abstract

Organic eutectics, as well as aniline-based compounds, were recently found to be efficient stabilizers for solid propellants. In the current work, compatibility of nitrocellulose (NC) with the conventional stabilizer (Diphenylamine (DPA)), one aniline-based compound (N-(2-ethanol)-p-nitroaniline (ENA)), and their eutectic composition (Diphenylamine + N-(2-ethanol)-p-nitroaniline) have been investigated by thermal techniques according to well-known standards. The compatibility and thermal stability of NC mixtures were further explored using stability tests, kinetic modeling via different isoconversional methods, and the determination of the isokinetic temperature. DPA was found to be highly compatible with NC, whereas compatibility issues appeared once ENA, as well as the eutectic (DPA+ENA), are present in the NC mixture. Moreover, the obtained results suggest an incompatibility between the stabilizers (ENA and DPA) in the eutectic mixture. Finally, it was found that the thermal stability of the NC-based energetic materials was adversely affected if a compatibility problem is observed between the stabilizers and nitrocellulose.