A Review on Thermal Behavior of Potassium Nitrate as Oxidizing Agent in the Presence of Various Fuels

Potassium nitrate as oxidant is one of the main components in the some pyrotechnic compounds. This salt is the cheapest amongst the alkali nitrates and naturally available that widely used in pyrotechnic compounds of infrared, flare and delay compounds. Consequently, the investigation its thermal properties have considerable significance such as thermal stability, lifetime, enthalpy, deflagration thermal, thermal decomposition kinetics, etc. are of great importance. In order to estimate these properties, thermal analysis methods such as thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning thermometry and differential thermal analysis are used. The thermal stability of the composition depends on the amount, type and size of the oxidizing particles and the type of fuel.In orther to, in this paper, a review will be made of the thermal behavior of potassium nitrate form pure and in pyrotechnic mixtures as oxidizing agents in the presence of various fuels (silicon, boron, iron, lactose, aluminum, tin and zirconium). Finally, the effect of heating rate, particle size, aging and also the presence of other nitrates on the thermal behavior of pyrotechnic mixtures containing potassium nitrate will be investigated.