Effect of nitro content on thermal stability and decomposition kinetics of nitro-HTPB

This paper has been utilizing the simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC) to investigate the thermal decomposition of nitro-HTPB as an energetic binder. Data on thermal stability along with the decomposition kinetics of energetic materials are required to better comprehend their decomposition mechanism and the hazards involved in their handling, storage and processing. The thermal behaviors of different nitro-HTPB samples with various nitro group contents were determined. Decomposition kinetic was investigated by evaluating the influence of DSC heating rate (10, 20, 30 and 40 °C min−1) on the behavior of a nitro-HTPB sample. The results as expected showed that the decomposition temperature of the nitro-HTPB decreases with the increase in the DSC heating rate, while thermal decomposition of the sample followed a first-order law. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the nitro-HTPB decomposition under ambient pressure were obtained from the resulted DSC data via non-isothermal methods proposed by ASTM E698 and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa. Also, the critical temperature of the nitro-HTPB was estimated at about 181 °C.