Nano-Scale Copper Oxide: Preparation, Characterization and its Effect on the Thermal Behavior of Ammonium Perchlorate

A new generation of high energy materials depends on the use of Nano-particle oxides. Nano-scale copper oxide (nano-CuO) has large surface area and surface energy which is suitable for its application in the field of energetic materials. This manuscript reports a method for the synthesis of nano-CuO by a liquid-state reaction method. The prepared nano-CuO was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to check the particles size, purity and morphology of the crystals. The effect of Nano-CuO on the thermal behavior of AP was tested by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The results proved that the average particle sizes of the nano-cuo particles are in the range of 10-20 nm. The thermal degradation rate of AP was increased by 23% in the presence of 1% nano-CuO and the heat release was increased by 51%. It was concluded that nano-CuO could have obvious effect on the burning behavior, performance and combustion characteristics of the solid rocket propellants.