Effect of triethanolamine and benzaldehyde on the storage stability of polystyrene - ammonium perchlorate propellant

The effect of triethanolamine [102-71-6] and benzaldehyde [100-52-7] on the stability of polystyrene [9003-53-6] was studied by dynamic thermogravimetry (TG). Slower decompn. of polymer in the presence of these compds. indicates their inhibiting ability on the oxidn. of the polymer. The burning-rate measurements of polystyrene$/NH_4ClO_4$ propellants at ambient temp. and pressure increases with the storage time. The percentage change of the burning rate of the propellants contg. aldehyde and amine is less during the aging, which indicates the increased propellant stability. The safe-life time of the propellants for the ballistic stability was calcd. from the activation energy of the aging process with an Arrhenius equation. The safe-life of the propellants contg. triethanolamine and benzaldehyde is longer than that of the neat propellant