Approach to the Catalytic Mechanism of Fullerene in Propellants

Through burning rate experiments and thermal analysis, the influence of adding three forms of carbon--carbon black, C 60 , and fullerene soot--separately in double-based propellants is studied. It is shown that C 60 and fullerene soot enhance the burning rate of double-based propellants and broaden the plateau region. By the AM1 method calculation, an attractive force between C 60 and NO is proved, which suggests a catalytic effect of fullerene on NO reduction, in contrast with a repellent force between graphite structure and NO. From analysis of the molecular structure of fullerene and its bonding ability, the catalytic mechanism of Pb x C 60 active sites is posed to explain why C 60 and fullerene soot have better catalytic effects than carbon black in a Pb-Cu-carbon black catalytic system in double-based propellants.