Nitrocellulose catalyzed with nanothermite particles: advanced energetic nanocomposite with superior decomposition kinetics

Manganese oxide with active surface sites can experience superior catalytic activity. MnO2 nanoparticles, of 11.4 nm particle size, were developed. Nitrocellulose (NC) was adopted as an energetic binder. Colloidal MnO2/Al nanothermite particles were integrated into the NC matrix via the co-precipitation technique. Nanothermite particles experienced an increase in NC decomposition enthalpy by 150% as well as enhanced reaction propagation index by 261%. A kinetic study demonstrated that nanothermite particles experienced a drastic decrease in NC activation energy by – 42 and – 40 kJ · mol−1 using Kissinger and KAS models, respectively. Novel energetic nanocomposite with superior combustion enthalpy, propagation index, and the activation energy was developed.