Evaluation of the synergistic effect of magnetic nanoparticles and Ferrocene-Based 1,2,3-Triazolyl compounds as burning rate catalysts for solid rocket Motors

Abstract

This work reports the synthesis, characterization, and application of promising nanocatalysts on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). Magnetite nanoparticles were functionalized with Ferrocene-derivative groups through chemical and physical methods to obtain these composite materials. The characterization was done using TEM, FTIR, VSM, and TGA techniques. The composite material MNP-Fc2I causes a decrease in the high-temperature decomposition (HTD) of AP to 357 °C. On the other hand, the MNP-Fc1 obtained the lowest activation energy (138 kJ·mol⁻¹), indicating that the reaction may initiate at a relatively high temperature due to the need to overcome the activation energy barrier; once it begins, it proceeds with reduced energy requirements. Furthermore, performing ion exchange with energetic anions results in a decrease in the decomposition temperature of AP for the MNP-Fc1(N₃) and MNP-Fc1(DCA) catalysts.