Elaboration, spectroscopic characterization, and study of the thermal decomposition process of energetic composites based on ammonium perchlorate and dual-biopolymers

The current study presents a successful elaboration and characterization of an innovative energetic composite based on nitrocellulose and nitrostarch (NCNPS) dual-biopolymers, and ammonium perchlorate (AP). A pre-establishment of the optimal formulation of the AP@NCNPS composite has been determined through a theoretical estimation of the ballistic performance via CEA-NASA software. The obtained composites were then fully characterized by FTIR, DSC, and TGA analyses. The IR-spectroscopy depicted the presence of all the characteristic groups of ester nitrates, revealing that the incorporation of AP did not alter the chemical structure of the dual-biopolymers. The thermal analysis demonstrated a mutual catalytic effect between AP and NCNPS biopolymeric matrix supported by the decrease of the maximum degradation temperatures observed for all the decomposition stages of AP@NCNPS composite after the incorporation of the oxidizer. The thermo-kinetic investigation, carried out using linear and non-linear isoconversional approaches (TAS, VYA/CE) demonstrated a considerable reduction in the activation energy values, highlighting, once again the role of AP in the improvement of the thermolysis process of the prepared AP@NCNPS energetic composite.