Accession Number:

ADA279600

Title:

Kinetics and Mechanisms of Thermal Decomposition of Nitroaromatic Explosives

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 20 Apr 1990-20 Apr 1993

Corporate Author:

DELAWARE UNIV NEWARK

Personal Author(s):

• Brill, Thomas B.
• James, Kenneth J.

Report Date:

1993-04-20

Pagination or Media Count:

145.0

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.

Descriptors:

• *THERMAL PROPERTIES
• *EXPLOSIVES
• *KINETICS
• *NITROBENZENES
• *DECOMPOSITION
• TEMPERATURE
• IMPACT
• MOLECULES
• MIXTURES
• OXYGEN
• SHOCK
• CATALYSIS
• TNT
• RINGS
• CHEMICAL REACTIONS
• CHEMICAL BONDS
• TIME
• NITROGEN
• EXPLOSIONS
• CARBON
• SENSITIVITY

Subject Categories:

• Organic Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Ammunition and Explosives
• Thermodynamics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE