Ignition and combustion performance of TKX-50 solid propellant under extreme conditions

To expand the applications of dihydroxylammonium 5,5′-bistetrazole-1,1′-diolate (TKX-50), a novel TKX-50 solid propellant (TP) was prepared using a TKX-50/AP/GAP composite system. The ignition and combustion performance under extreme conditions was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry and a custom-designed low-temperature negative-pressure laser ignition system. The results indicated that TP samples exhibited earlier thermal decomposition onset temperatures than their individual components, with their ignition and combustion properties highly sensitive to ambient pressure and temperature. The TKX-50/AP/GAP system exhibited complex interactions that enhanced ignition performance. The incorporation of Ni and Fe catalysts further improved performance. Fe outperformed Ni under most conditions; however, Ni was more effective at low temperatures. As a result, the Ni-containing TP sample demonstrated superior ignition stability under extreme low-temperature conditions, whereas the Fe-containing TP sample proved to be more suitable for extreme low-pressure conditions.