Study of Some Low Temperature Gas‐Generating Compositions

Some low temperature gas‐generating compositions, comprised of guanidine nitrate (GN), basic cupric nitrate (BCN), and ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃), were studied herein. The thermal decomposition properties and burning characteristics of GN/BCN/Fe₂O₃ mixtures were investigated by thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC), burning temperature measurements, automatic calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). This study showed that the maximum burning temperature of GN/BCN/Fe₂O₃ mixture (613 °C) was 31 % lower than that of GN/BCN mixture and the corresponding heat of combustion (2647 J g⁻¹) decreased by 15 %. When the GN/BCN/Fe₂O₃ mixtures were burning, Fe₂O₃ did not directly react with GN but with Cu (or CuO), which was produced by reaction between GN and BCN. The combustion process of GN/BCN/Fe₂O₃ grains could be divided into four stages: pre‐heated, condensed, combustion, and cooling.