Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behavior of MFe.sub.2O.sub.4 nanoparticles on the thermal decomposition of TKX-50

Bimetallic iron oxides (NiFe.sub.2O.sub.4, ZnFe.sub.2O.sub.4 and CoFe.sub.2O.sub.4) were prepared via the facile solvothermal method and characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS and BET instruments. The catalytic behavior of the bimetallic iron oxides on the thermal decomposition of 5, 5'-bistetrazole-1, 1'-diolate (TKX-50) was studied using DSC and TG-DTG methods. Besides, the corresponding kinetic parameters of TKX-50 thermal decomposition were calculated by multi-kinetics methods including traditional, iso-conversional and iteration methods. The thermal decomposition peak temperature (T.sub.p) and the activation energy (E.sub.a) reduced obviously after the addition of bimetallic iron oxides. Among different bimetallic iron oxides, the ZnFe.sub.2O.sub.4 has the best catalytic activity for TKX-50 thermal decomposition. The high thermal decomposition peak temperature (T.sub.HDP) and average apparent activation energy (E.sub.a) of TKX-50 were decreased by 47.0 °C and 34.34 kJ mol.sup.-1 in the presence of ZnFe.sub.2O.sub.4 sample. The excellent catalytic activity of ZnFe.sub.2O.sub.4 for thermal decomposition of TKX-50 makes it a promising combustion catalyst of insensitive solid propellants containing TKX-50.