AbstractThis study establishes superiority of resorcinol as stabilizer for CMDB propellants followed by RDME (resorcinol dimethylethcr) as compared to other resorcinol derivatives and that of CdO amongst metal oxides. The use of resorcinol and CdO combination in CMDB formulation results in higher E of 33 kca/mol and shelf life of 203 years as compared to E of 31 kcal/mol and life of 70–73 years for resorcinol or CdO based composition suggesting their synergistic stabilization effect. Results of the present investigation bring out that aging mechanism of CMDB involves cleavage of RO‐NO2 bond like DBP, however, AP‐based CMDB are strongly autocatalytic. Thus stabilizers used in DBP (Carbamite and 2‐NDPA) do not take care of CMDB propellant aging. Suitability of resorcinol may be explained on the basis of its activated aromatic ring for scavenging of oxides of nitrogen.