Thermal Decomposition of Rigid Polyurethane Foams/RDX Gun Propellants

Abstract

Thermal decomposition of foamed propellant based on rigid polyurethane foams and 1,3,5- trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX) was studied by TG and DSC. The exothermal reaction kinetics was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in no-isothermal conditions at different heating rates in atmosphere and high pressures. The results showed: With the increase of pressure, the peak temperature and the decomposition heat rises. Meanwhile, the decomposition curves presented secondary exothermic peaks under high pressures, resulting from autocatalysis and self-heating. The activation energy obtained by Kissinger and Ozawa methods is similar, and with the pressure increased, the activation energy deceased. The critical temperature of thermal explosion is lower than RDX.