Investigating the Impact of Nano‐Metal Oxides (Copper and Iron) on the Thermal Decomposition Behavior of Advanced Propellants with Nitrocellulose/Polyurethane Binders

Abstract This research delves into the combined effects of green nano metal oxides (copper and iron) and polyurethane (PU) modification on the thermal degradation kinetics of propellant based on solid ammonium nitrate composite modified simple base (CMSB). Surface modification of ammonium nitrate particles was achieved through repeated spray coating, ensuring effective catalyst binding. The formulated compositions of propellants underwent thorough thermal characterization, including thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. TG analysis revealed a significant decrease in the propellant's thermal degradation temperature, attributed to AN modification with nano metal oxides (nMOs) and the use of PU/NC as a binder. Isoconversional kinetic methods (It‐KAS, It‐FWO, and VYA/CE) were employed for further analysis, allowing prediction of kinetic parameters. Additionally, kinetic analysis results allowed calculation of the critical ignition temperature. The thermokinetic results underscore the substantial impact of nMOs particles and PU modification regarding the reactivity and catalytic performance of propellant containing ammonium nitrate, leading to a noteworthy reduction in activation energy and critical ignition temperature. Furthermore, modifying the binder with nitrocellulose and incorporating nanoparticles significantly reduces ignition delay and combustion duration while increasing flame intensity in CMDB solid propellants, enhancing overall combustion efficiency.