Sol-gel preparation of PZT powders and its catalytic effect on burning rate of RDX-CMDB propellant

Perovskite-type Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) powders were synthesized by a modified sol-gel method. In this route, citric acid (C A) was used a chelating agent to keep the metal ions in homogeneous solution without undergoing precipitation. The obtained powders were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDS techniques. Phase-pure perovskite structure was formed at 500°C. Combustion tests were carried out to investigate the effect of PZT powders on the burning rate of NC/RDX/NG propellant It is found that PZT powders increase the burning rate of the propellant to the extent 50% as well as bring down the pressure exponent n to 0.25 (5-20 MPa).