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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Laboratory Scale Slow Cook-Off Testing of Rocket Propellants: The Combustion Rate Analysis of a Slowly Heated Propellant (CRASH-P) Test
Published on: February 6, 2021
One-pot synthesis of green energetic coordination compounds as high-efficiency combustion catalysts for ammonium
Shi Huang1, Ruibing Lv1, Haifeng Wang1
1National Key Laboratory of Chemical Explosion Safety, Institute of Chemical Materials, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, P. R. China. zhiwang89@foxmail.com.
Abstract:
Enhancing the combustion performance of ammonium perchlorate (AP) remains a critical challenge in developing high-performance solid propellants. To achieve efficient and safe combustion regulation, energetic coordination compounds (ECCs) offer a promising solution by virtue of their catalytic activity, intrinsic energy release, and reduced environmental impact. In this work, a series of N,N-bis(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)amine (BTA)-based ECCs was synthesized through a simple, green, and efficient one-pot method. Six new ECCs were successfully obtained: [Fe(BTA)3](HGua)3·3H2O (ECC-1), [Fe(HBTA)3](HGua)(H2BTA)·5H2O (ECC-2), [Mn(BTA)3](HGua)4·3H2O (ECC-3), [Al(BTA)3](HGua)3·4H2O (ECC-4), [Co(HBTA)(BTA)2](HGua)3·4H2O (ECC-5), and [Ni(BTA)3](HGua)4·6H2O (ECC-6). These ECCs were comprehensively characterized to evaluate their energetic properties, thermal stability, mechanical sensitivities, and catalytic effects on AP decomposition. Thermal analysis indicates that most BTA-based ECCs significantly accelerate AP decomposition, lowering its high-temperature decomposition peak by up to 81 °C Moreover, these complexes exhibit good thermal stability with decomposition temperatures ranging from 141 °C to 312 °C, low mechanical sensitivity with impact sensitivities above 40 J (except for ECC-2 at 5 J), and high energy output arising from the nitrogen-rich BTA ligand. Electrothermal ignition experiments further demonstrate their capability to promote and stabilize the combustion of HMX/AP composites, yielding accelerated burning rates and enhanced flame propagation, which highlights their substantial potential as green and efficient combustion catalysts for next-generation solid propellants.
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