A binuclear ferrocene-based ionic complex as a highly efficient burning rate catalyst for ammonium perchlorate composite propellants
Qun Luo, Xueyi Chang, Lirong Cai, Zhiyu Cheng, Yongfu Qiu, Guiping Tan, Muqing Chen
Abstract
Precise control of solid propellant burn rate is critical for aerospace and defense applications. This study introduces a novel binuclear ferrocene-based ionic complex, DiFc-IC, synthesized via a facile ionic self-assembly approach, as a highly efficient burning rate catalyst for ammonium perchlorate (AP) composite propellants. DiFc-IC, designed to mitigate catalyst migration, was characterized using 1 H-NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), confirming its structure, electronic properties, and thermal stability. Comparative TGA and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses revealed that DiFc-IC significantly reduced the high-temperature decomposition (HTD) temperature of AP, exhibiting superior catalytic activity compared to the commercially available catocene. Optimal DiFc-IC loading was determined to be 5 wt%, yielding a substantial enhancement in AP decomposition kinetics. Furthermore, migration studies demonstrated that DiFc-IC exhibited significantly reduced migration within the propellant matrix compared to catocene, with a diffusion coefficient approximately 7.6% that of catocene. This enhanced migration resistance, attributed to the ionic nature and potential for stronger interactions within the propellant binder, positions DiFc-IC as a promising catalyst for next-generation solid propellant formulations, offering improved performance and stability.