Effects of magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials on the thermal decomposition, burning rate, and explosive heat of ammonium perchlorate-based composite solid propellant

Highlights: • Three hydrogen storage materials, MgH₂, Mg₂NiH₄ and Mg₂CuH₃, were prepared. • Those materials show obvious catalytic effect on thermal decomposition of AP and solid propellant. • Those materials used as promoter can improve the burning rates of solid propellant. • The combustion heat of MgH₂ was higher than that of Al. • The burning rates of solid propellant was increased when Al replaced by MgH₂. - Abstract: MgH₂, Mg₂NiH₄, and Mg₂CuH₃ were prepared, and their structure and hydrogen storage properties were determined through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermal analyzer. The effects of MgH₂, Mg₂NiH₄, and Mg₂CuH₃ on the thermal decomposition, burning rate, and explosive heat of ammonium perchlorate-based composite solid propellant were subsequently studied. Results indicated that MgH₂, Mg₂NiH₄, and Mg₂CuH₃ can decrease the thermal decomposition peak temperature and increase the total released heat of decomposition. These compounds can improve the effect of thermal decomposition of the propellant. The burning rates of the propellant increased using Mg-based hydrogen storage materials as promoter. The burning rates of the propellant also increased using MgH₂ instead of Al in the propellant, but its explosive heat was not enlarged. Nonetheless, the combustion heat of MgH₂ was higher than that of Al. A possible mechanism was thus proposed.