A STUDY OF THE DECOMPOSITION RATE OF NITRONIUM PERCHLORATE AT TEMPERATURES OF 80 TO 140 F (26.7 TO 60 C)

The rate of decomposition of nitronium perchlorate at constant temperatures of 80 to 140 F was determined by measuring the weight loss of modified Kjeldahl flasks from which the accumulating decomposition products were periodically removed. The decomposition rates are based on data accumulated from 550 hours to 28 months. The results indicate a much slower decomposition rate than extrapolations from higher temperature data would indicate and that the incorporation of a fluorocarbon binder had little influence on the decomposition rate.