Kinetics and Mechanisms of Thermal Decomposition of Nitroaromatic Explosives

Abstract

A critical examination of the kinetics and mechanisms of nitroaromatic explosives is made. The initiation reaction mechanisms differ with temperature. Shock initiation conditions produce mostly C-NO, bond homolysis. Impact initiation produces a mixture of C-NO2 homolysis and reactions of the non-energetic substituents on the ring. Time-to-explosion for times longer than about 0.1 seconds is controlled mostly by catalysis from the decomposition products of the parent molecule. The explosive characteristics depend to a large extent on the relative proportions of the gaseous decomposition products that are generated in the initial reaction steps.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 20, 1993
Accession Number
ADA279600

Entities

People

  • Kenneth J. James
  • Thomas B. Brill

Organizations

  • University of Delaware

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Reactants
  • Chemical Reaction Properties
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Decomposition
  • Dissociation
  • Energetic Materials
  • Explosives
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Transfer
  • Ionization
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Spectra
  • Spectroscopy
  • Thermodynamics

Readers

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Theoretical Analysis.