Thermoanalytical Screening of Nitrogen-Rich Compounds for Ballistic Requirements of Gun Propellant

This study reports the suitability of nitrogen-rich compounds for gun-propellant formulations in regard to flame temperature and burning-rate characteristics. Nine different nitrogen-rich compounds [guanidinium nitrate, triaminoguanidinium nitrate, triaminoguanidinium azide, guanidinium azotetrazolate, triaminoguanidinium azotetrazolate, hydrazinium azotetrazolate, 3, 3’-azobis (6-amino-1, 2, 4, 5-tetrazine), 3, 6-dihydrazino-1, 2, 4, 5tetrazine, and guanidinium-5-aminotetrazolate] have been studied on the basis of gas-phase thermal analysis to investigate the decomposition pathways. The decomposition mechanism as elucidated for each nitrogen-rich compound has been examined, discussed, and contrasted with an aim to identify the suitable candidates favoring the lower-burning-rate characteristics for the gun-propellant formulations. The suitability has been validated on the basis of closed-vessel testing of selected nitrogen-rich compounds from the preceding.