The impact of metastable intermolrecular nanocomposite particles on kinetic decomposition of heterocyclic nitramines using advanced solid-phase decomposition models

Surface oxygen of oxide catalyst has low coordination number; they are negatively charged. Surface oxygen can act active site for decomposition of energetic nitramines (i.e. HMX). Additionally hydrous catalyst surface can release active OH radicals. Colloidal oxide particles can fulfil these requirements. Furthermore oxide particles can induce thermite reaction with aluminium particles. This study reports on the facile fabrication of colloidal ferric oxide particles of 5 nm average particle size. Aluminium nanoplates of 100 nm particle size were dispersed in ferric oxide colloid. Colloidal Fe2O3/Al binary mixture was integrated into HMX matrix via co-precipitation technique. SEM micrographs demonstrated uniform dispersion of nanothermite particles into energetic matrix. Naonothermite particles experienced dramatic change in HMX thermal behaviour with increase in total heat release by 63% using DSC. The impact of thermite particles on HMX kinetic decomposition was evaluated via an integral isoconversional method using KAS, and Kissinger models. The mean value of apparent activation was reduced by 23.5 and 24.3% using Kissinger and KAS models respectively. This dramatic change in HMX decomposition could be ascribed to ferric oxide reactivity. Facile integration of colloidal thermite particles into HMX can secure high interfacial surface area.