Interfacial Engineering Endowing Ammonium Perchlorate with High Mechanical Properties and Energy-Release Efficiency

In the development of composite solid propellants, maintaining energy-release efficiency while enhancing the mechanical properties of the propellants presents a significant challenge. Optimizing the interfacial relationships among various propellant components can potentially improve both the mechanical performance and energy-release efficiency of these propellants. This study developed a straightforward method using tannic acid (TA) and Fe3+ ions to create an interfacial layer on ammonium perchlorate (AP) particles (referred to as AP@TA-Fe) for achieving enhanced AP energy-release efficiency and mechanical properties of the propellant. AP@TA-Fe composites with different TA-Fe mass ratios (2, 4, and 6 wt%) were prepared, tested, and characterized. The experimental results demonstrated the interface-engineered AP@TA-Fe displayed enhanced hydrophobicity and rapid energy release, and these effects intensified with increasing interfacial layer thickness. The TA-Fe interfacial layer significantly enhanced the tensile strength and elongation of the propellant under various temperature conditions. As the thickness of the TA-Fe layer increased, the damage mechanism of the modified propellant shifted from the dewetting of the AP particles to the tearing of the adhesive matrix. Consequently, the AP@TA-Fe composites are expected to serve as superior substitutes for traditional AP in propellant applications.