Effect of Fe-based organic metal framework on the thermal decomposition of potassium nitrate and its application to the composite solid propellants

This research focuses on the MIL-100(Fe) organometallic framework (MOF) promoting the thermal decomposition of potassium nitrate. A conventional MOF, MIL-100(Fe), is a chemical compound with a three-dimensional architecture composed of iron clusters and coordinating organic ligands. In the present study, MIL-100(Fe) was manufactured and dopped into potassium nitrate for thermogravimetric analysis to delineate the thermal decomposition behaviors of potassium nitrate. According to the thermal decomposition results, it shows that MIL-100(Fe) could promote potassium nitrate to reach the highest mass loss rate effectively at lower temperature conditions. Moreover, The results also delineate that the activation energy of thermal decomposition of potassium nitrate could be reduced by adding MIL-100(Fe) in potassium nitrate. On the other hand, the solid composite propellant composed of epoxy and potassium nitrate was also prepared as an example of the burning velocity test. The results show that the burning velocity could be enhanced by adding MIL-100(Fe) and also suggest the potential combustion catalyst for composite solid propellant.