Effects of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles on the thermal behavior and non-isothermal decomposition kinetics of nitrocellulose

• Fe2O3 nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal method.
• Effects of Fe2O3 nanoparticles on the thermal decomposition of NC are studied upon DSC data.
• Thermal behaviors and the gases evolved from the degradation of NC and Fe2O3-NC are investigated with a TG-IR technique.

The effects Fe2O3 nanoparticles on the thermal decomposition of nitrocellulose (NC) have been investigated by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method and the thermogravimetry with Fourier transform infrared analysis (TG-IR). DSC analysis shows that Fe2O3 can be safely used with NC, and the thermal decomposition reactions of Fe2O3-NC composite and NC follow the same thermal decomposition mechanism of Avrami-Erofeev equation f(α) = 1.5(1–α)[–ln(1–α)]1/3 in differential form. The as-prepared nanoparticles could reduce the activation energy of the decomposition reaction and the critical temperature of thermal explosion of NC. In addition, TG-IR analysis indicated that Fe2O3 nanoparticles play a crucial role in promoting the ONO2 bond cleavage and secondary autocatalytic reactions in condensed phase. This contribution suggests that introducing Fe2O3 nanostructure may be a promising way to accelerate the thermal decomposition of NC.