Thermal decomposition of pyrotechnic mixtures containing sucrose with either potassium chlorate or potassium perchlorate

The thermal behavior Of Sucrose, KClO3, KCIO4, and KCIO3 + sucrose and KCIO4 + sucrose mixtures was studied experimentally using differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry (TG). The mixtures (KCIO3 or KCIO4 with sucrose) are sometimes used as pyrotechnic mixtures in military activities. The results demonstrate that the ignition temperatures for KCIO3 and KCIO4 are 472 and 592 degrees C, respectively. On the other hand, DTA-TG of pure Sucrose indicates that this compound decomposes at 180 degrees C before it initiates. Also, when KCIO3 is replaced by KCIO4 as oxidizer of the fuel, sucrose, the sensitivity of the mixture decreases. In addition, the ignition temperature for a mixture of KCIO3 and sucrose can be as low as 180 degrees C. However, replacing KCIO3 with KCIO4 elevates the ignition temperature of the mixture by at least 200 to similar to 410 degrees C, which is a safe temperature for preventing activation of the mixture by accidental factors Such as static electricity. (c) 2005 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.