Thermal Decomposition of RDX Composite Propellants

The thermal decomposition characteristics of RDX, binders, and RDX composite propellants were studied using thermal analytical techniques. Three kinds of binders were tested to elucidate the role of binder on the burning rate of the propellants. There were no apparent correlations between the thermal decomposition rates of binders and the burning rates of propellants, whereas there was a correlation between the decomposition temperature and the burning rate of the propellants. It is found that the major factor which controls the burning rate is the initial thermal-decomposition stage of the binders. Thus, the burning rate of nitramine composite propellants appeared to be largely dependent on the physical and chemical properties of binder.