Evaluation of the Impact of Hydrogen Peroxide on ANFO-Based Materials' Morphology

The decomposition of high-energy materials often releases large volumes of toxic fumes, contributing to environmental pollution. To reduce these emissions, eco-friendly formulations are being developed by modifying chemical composition or adding functional additives that enhance combustion and reduce toxic byproducts. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), acting as both an oxidizer and potential fuel, shows promise in lowering NO_x emissions. However, its impact on formulation stability must be assessed. This study examines the morphological and thermal behavior of an ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and hydrogen peroxide (ANFOHP) formulation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermal analysis based on thermogravimetry (TG) connected with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. SEM showed that the fuel oil-hydrogen peroxide (FOHP) blend formed a thin film on ammonium nitrate prills without structural damage. XRD patterns indicated an intact crystalline structure. Moreover, FT-IR analysis performed both for fresh and 24-h stored samples evidenced no structural changes. In turn, TG/DSC revealed altered thermal behavior, with a new endothermic peak near 80 °C corresponding to the simultaneous evaporation of water and hydrogen peroxide from the ANFO surface, and reduced intensity of the main ANFO decomposition peak, indicating a shift in the thermal behavior induced by the FOHP blend.