Nitrocellulose catalyzed with nanothermite particles: advanced energetic nanocomposite with superior decomposition kinetics

• Published in: Journal of energetic materials Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 550 - 565
• Main Authors: Elbasuney, Sherif, Yehia, M., Ismael, Shukri, Saleh, Ahmed, Fahd, Ahmed, El-Shaer, Yasser
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 02-10-2023; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Activation energy; Catalytic activity; Cellulose esters; Cellulose nitrate; Decomposition; Decomposition reactions; Energetic materials; Enthalpy; hydrothermal synthesis; Manganese; Manganese dioxide; Manganese oxides; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; thermites
• ISSN: 0737-0652; 1545-8822
• DOI: 10.1080/07370652.2021.2004625

Manganese oxide with active surface sites can experience superior catalytic activity. MnO
2
nanoparticles, of 11.4 nm particle size, were developed. Nitrocellulose (NC) was adopted as an energetic binder. Colloidal MnO
2
/Al nanothermite particles were integrated into the NC matrix via the co-precipitation technique. Nanothermite particles experienced an increase in NC decomposition enthalpy by 150% as well as enhanced reaction propagation index by 261%. A kinetic study demonstrated that nanothermite particles experienced a drastic decrease in NC activation energy by - 42 and - 40 kJ · mol
−1
using Kissinger and KAS models, respectively. Novel energetic nanocomposite with superior combustion enthalpy, propagation index, and the activation energy was developed.