Thermal decomposition of solid mixtures of 2-oxy-4,6-dinitramine-s-triazine (DNAM) and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN)

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of solid mixtures of 2-oxy-4,6-dinitramine-s-triazine (DNAM) and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) at different mass ratios has been studied. Simultaneous thermal analysis (DSC/TG) and thermomicroscopy have been used. It was found that PSAN promotes the lowering of the decomposition temperature of DNAM. The beginning of this process occurs when both components are in the solid state irrespective of the composition. However, the composition appears as the main factor determining the process progression once initiated. These observations are interpreted in the light of known properties of both DNAM and PSAN. Non-isothermal kinetic analysis, restricted to the early stage of the decomposition process, has been performed for the particular DNAM/PSAN ratios of 50/50 and 60/40. The complexity of the process is evidenced by the impossibility of being described by a kinetic model function other than an empirical one (Sestak-Berggren). Noticeable differences in the apparent Arrhenius parameters were found, indicating remarkable changes in the process over the composition range of the kinetic analysis.