Accession Number:

AD0743472

Title:

Effect of Adsorbate Reactions on Rates of Thermal Initiation of Lead Azide.

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.,

Corporate Author:

PICATINNY ARSENAL DOVER N J

Personal Author(s):

• Haberman,Jerome
• Castorina,Thomas C.

Report Date:

1972-05-01

Pagination or Media Count:

30.0

Abstract:

The time of thermal initiation to explosive decomposition of polycrystalline lead azide was studied as a function of interacting proton- and electron-donor vapors at the surface interface. Di- and n-propyl amine as electron donors, and formic and acetic acids as proton donors, changed the time of initiation by approximately plus and minus 25, respectively. The incremental changes in the rates appear to be in the order of the corresponding strengths of the basic and acidic properties of the adsorbates. The adsorbate interactions are interpreted as inducing changes in the population of lead nuclei on the surface of lead azide. These results are consistent with the concept that the thermal initiation of lead azide can be surface-catalyzed. Author

Descriptors:

• (*AZIDES
• *DETONATIONS)
• SURFACES
• ADSORPTION
• LEAD COMPOUNDS
• FREE RADICALS
• CATALYSIS

Subject Categories:

• Physical Chemistry
• Ammunition and Explosives

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE