Nanocatalysts: Potential Burning Rate Modifier for Composite Solid Propellants

Exciting new opportunities are emerging in the field of catalysis based on nanotechnology approaches. A new understanding and mastery of catalysis could have broad societal impacts, since about 80% of the processes in the chemical industry depend on catalysts working efficiently. In this review article, we are trying to summarize data reported in literature for catalytic activity of nanoparticles (NPs) in the burning rate of composite solid propellants (CSPs). Improvement in catalytic properties, due to size of catalyst to nano scale, is discussed here. Several experimental results revealed that due to small size and large surface area, NPs are more potential burning rate catalysts for CSPs compared to their bulk counterparts. Introductive points regarding nanotechnology, CSPs and ammonium perchlorate are also discussed.