Electrolytic oxidation of 1H-1,2,4-triazole, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, and 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole for energetic material synthesis

In order to change the energy release properties of energetic materials by altering the electronic state, the electrolytic oxidation of azoles with sodium perchlorate was carried out at conditions determined by linear sweep voltammetry. The change in electronic state due to the electrolytic oxidation was verified using ultraviolet spectroscopy. The thermal stability of products was investigated using sealed cell differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis. The electrolytic oxidation provided products whose onset temperatures of peaks differed from those of reactant azoles. The electrolytic oxidation destabilized 1,2,4-triazole (TA) and 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (4ATA), but increased the stability of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3ATA). However, distinct exothermic peaks were observed and Q(DSC) significantly increased for all triazole products. The gasification rates increased by more than 50 % due to electrolytic oxidation. In particular, electrolytic oxidized TA with perchlorate reached 99.5 % of gasification rate. These results confirmed that electrolytic oxidation is a promising method for developing new energetic materials with favorable energy release properties.