Synthesis of copper chromite catalyst

Abstract Copper chromite (CuCr 2 O 4 ) catalysts were prepared by ceramic and coprecipitation methods and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental, differential calorimetric (DSC), thermogravimetric and granulometric analysis, mass spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Elemental and IR analysis have shown similarities among the samples for both synthetic methods. However, DSC, SEM and X-ray analysis of the samples synthesized by coprecipitation method presented different physical properties. For those samples, DSC could identify a tetragonal → cubic phase transition, SEM showed particles with defined crystalline shapes and X-ray analysis contains the main assignments which identify the formation of CuCr 2 O 4 . HTPB propellants containing CuCr 2 O 4 samples were manufactured, then burning rate and mechanical properties have been measured. The results were compared with HTPB propellants containing iron (III) oxide as catalyst. The highest burning rate values were obtained with samples which present a more defined crystalline shape, i.e., the ones synthesized by the coprecipitation method.