Thermal analysis of high explosives: liquid state decomposition of RDX

Journal ArticleNonisothermal thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been applied to the thermal decomposition of RDX. Model-free isoconversional analysis of TGA and DSC traces show that RDX primarily evaporates in an open pan with an activation energy of Eα -100 kJ mol-1. Similar analysis of pierced pan TGA and DSC and closed pan DSC curves reveal that RDX decomposes in the liquid state under these conditions with Eα -150 -195 kJ mol-1