Facile Template Free Shape Controlled Synthesis of α-Fe₂O₃ Truncated Octahedral Microstructures for the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate

Title:Facile Template Free Shape Controlled Synthesis of α-Fe₂O₃ Truncated Octahedral Microstructures for the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate

Volume: 13 Issue: 2

Author(s): Vijayasree Haridas, Sankaran Sugunan and Binitha Narayanan*

Affiliation:

• Department of Chemistry, Sree Neelakanta Government Sanskrit College, Pattambi, Palakkad-679306, Kerala,India

Keywords: α-Fe₂O₃, truncated octahedral microstructure, facile preparation, decomposition, ammonium perchlorate, catalyst.

Abstract:

Background: The combustion behavior of the solid rocket propellants is highly dependent on the thermal decomposition characteristics of Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) and thus low-cost, facile and scalable preparation of the additive metal oxide-based catalysts is highly desired for the decomposition of AP.

Objective: A template free one-step low-cost preparation of α-Fe₂O₃ for its use as a catalyst in the decomposition of AP.

Methods: The catalyst is prepared by the simple heating of ferric chloride at 380 °C without any chemical treatment. The material is characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM). The catalytic thermal decomposition of AP over α-Fe₂O₃ was measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).

Results: The material exhibited a pure α-Fe₂O₃ crystalline phase. Morphological investigations revealed the uniform formation of truncated octahedral microstructures of α-Fe₂O₃. DSC analysis confirmed the two-step exothermic thermal decomposition of AP with decreased decomposition temperatures with the catalytic assistance of α-Fe₂O₃.

Conclusion: With the catalytic assistance of low-cost and easily prepared α-Fe₂O₃, the decomposition temperature was decreased by 30 ºC when compared to the pure ammonium perchlorate and a high decomposition heat release of 807 Jg^-1 was observed.

Cite this article as:

Haridas Vijayasree , Sugunan Sankaran and Narayanan Binitha *, Facile Template Free Shape Controlled Synthesis of α-Fe₂O₃ Truncated Octahedral Microstructures for the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate, Micro and Nanosystems 2021; 13 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1876402912999200608141746