Preparation of Zn–Co Bimetallic Catalysts and Their Catalytic Properties for Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate

This research delves into the preparation of heteronuclear bimetallic catalysts and explores their catalytic properties in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). The study's central focus is on enhancing the thermal decomposition characteristics of AP and, consequently, the combustion performance of composite solid propellants. The synthesized materials underwent structural characterization by XRD, XPS, SEM, and FTIR. Catalytic properties were examined using DTA tests. Notably, catalysts derived from calcination at 500 °C exhibited heightened catalytic activity. They advanced the pyrolysis temperature by 135.4 °C and reduced the activation energy by 82.38 kJ/mol compared with pure AP. To further elucidate the decomposition mechanism of AP, the investigation also employed a combined approach involving DSC-TG-FTIR-MS analysis.