Large scale synthesis and characterization of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles for propellant applications

Nano iron oxide (α-Fe₂O₃) exhibits better performance as a burn rate catalyst in composite rocket propellant. A polymer citrate precursor method (a combustion process) was developed (in this laboratory) for large scale synthesis of nanoα-Fe₂O₃ from starting material iron nitrate. The synthesized nanoα-Fe₂O₃ wascharacterized for bulk density, powder XRD, BET surface area and HRTEM. Two redox titration methods viz. permanganate and iodometricwere discussed for chemical analysis (assay) of samples. Preliminary study indicates that use of nanoFe₂O₃in composite propellant formulations resulted in ~ 50% improvement in burn rate.