Role of bio-polymeric binders on combustion and fire suppression performance of KNO3/KClO4–3,5 DNB pyrotechnic composite

Traditional pyrotechnic composites (PCs), often synthesized with epoxy or other synthetic binders, can combust at temperatures up to ​ 2100 °C, creating secondary fire and explosion risks. This study examines how renewable, cost-effective binders: starch, guar gum, tannic acid, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose affect the combustion behavior, exothermicity, temperature profiles, and fire-suppression performance of PCs in a 4.57 kW n-heptane pool fire. Characterization of the aerosol particulates was performed using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. SEM-EDX and DSC for the PCs. PC-1, with a linear burning rate (LBR) of 10.05 ± 2.158 mm/s, extinguished the fire within 5 s and generated the highest ignition temperature (210 °C), whereas PC-4 and PC-5 with LBRs of 9.3 ± 0.742 mm/s and 9.7 ± 0.693 mm/s, respectively showed a noticeable decrease in ignition temperatures (184 °C and 182 °C, respectively) and suppressed the fire within 7 s and 5 s, respectively. It can be concluded that starch-based PC exhibited optimal fire performance parameters, making it a promising bio-based binder for the KNO 3 -KClO 4 -3, 5 DNB pyrotechnic composition.