Ammonium Perchlorate, Friend or Foe?

Abstract

In part 1 of this paper, it was demonstrated that a nitroglycerine and polyethylene glycol based propellant containing ammonium perchlorate degraded at a slower rate at temperatures of 80 °C or less compared with the other two energetic materials studied which did not have this oxidizer present. It was suggested that ammonium perchlorate might act as an oxygen inhibitor reducing the oxidation rate of the polyethylene glycol binder which decreases the rate of propellant decomposition. In part 2, the specific interaction between ammonium perchlorate, nitroglycerine and polyethylene glycol is reported. It has been shown that at temperatures lower than 90 °C, if there is any uncured and unstabilised PEG present, nitroglycerine rapidly degrades in the presence of ammonium perchlorate but this is prevented if stabiliser is added. In addition, ammonium perchlorate initially appears to hinder acid hydrolysis of nitroglycerine which also slows down the degradation of polyethylene glycol based propellants. However, in the long term at low temperatures, or short term at higher temperatures, AP accelerates the decomposition of NG.

Recovery of Ammonium Perchlorate from Obsolete Ammunition and Its Application in Synthesis of Lithium Perchlorate

“…AP is stable under normal temperature and pressure, but when decomposition due to burning can produce a high‐pressure explosion. Although large amounts of the AP compound are used in the aerospace launch industry and military application, it is one of the best propulsion materials [11–12]. However, as the propellant becomes superannuated, the propulsion system is no longer controlled.…”