Effect of additives on the decomposition of KClO4

The effect of the addition of carbon and/or sulphur on potassium perchlorate (KClO₄) decomposition has been studied by thermo-analytical techniques, i.e. thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTGA), differential scanning calorimetry (d.s.c.) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-i.r.) spectroscopy. The TGA, DTGA and d.s.c. results show that carbon catalyses the decomposition of KClO₄, and simultaneous decomposition of KClO₄ and oxidation of carbon takes place in a solid phase. Addition of sulphur to KClO₄ does not show any major effect but its presence in a ternary mixture (KClO₄, carbon and sulphur) facilitates the decomposition/oxidation reaction. The FT-i.r. emission studies show that CO₂ and SO₂ are the major combustion products detectable by infrared spectroscopy.