Kinetic Deuterium Isotope Effects in the Combustion of Formulated Nitramine Propellants
Abstract
The kinetic deuterium isotope effect was used to investigate the rate-limiting process in the combustion of formulated nitramine propellants. Model Propellant formulations containing either octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1, 3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), or their deuteriated analogues were pressed into pellets and burned under nitrogen pressure in a window bomb. The magnitudes of the observed deuterium isotope effects indicate that the HMX and RDX exert significant control over the combustion phenomenon of the propellants studied. Furthermore, assuming a consistent mechanism between decomposition and combustion, the observed isotope effects suggest that a carbon-hydrogen bond rupture in HMX or RDX is the rate- controlling step in the combustion of the model nitramine propellants
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA284661
Entities
People
- Paul C. Trulove
- Robert D. Chapman
- Scott A. Shackelford