MWNTs Coated with CuO Particles: A Novel Nano-catalyst for Solid Propellants

MWNTs can expose surface area (> 700 m(2) g(-1)) as well as high catalyzing ability; additionally they can act as carrier for energetic components. This study reports on coating MWNTs with copper particles throughout electroless plating. Hybrid Cu-MWNTs was annealed at 250 degrees C to develop CuO-MWNTs. TEM micrographs demonstrated MWNTs regularly coated with CuO nanoparticles. XRD diffractograms revealed high crystalline structure. Ammonium perchlorates (APC) is common oxidizer for solid propellants; however its decomposition is an endothermic process. Synthesized CuO-MWNTs were encapsulated into APC oxidizer via solvent-antisolvent technique. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to investigate catalytic performance of CuO-MWNTs. At 1 wt%, CuO-MWNTs decreased APC endothermic decomposition by 16.3%. The two subsequent exothermic decomposition stages were fused into one stage with surge in total heat release by 100%. These novel features can inherit CuO-MWNTs exclusive catalyzing ability.