Comparative Studies on the Decomposition Behaviour of Secondary Explosives RDX and HMX

Abstract

Thermal decomposition studies of RDX and HMX have been carried out by using Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) technique where small amounts of the material could be used safely for analysis. The exothermicity for the thermal decomposition of RDX and HMX, in liquid state, was estimated to be 118+-12 Kcal mole/sup -1/ and 140+-10 Kcal mole/sup -1/ respectively. The results very clearly indicate that under similar conditions HMX both indicate that the decomposition follows a complex mechanistic path. Activation Energy (E) values were determined both from isothermal runs as well as dynamic runs and were found to be around 43+-3 Kcal Mole/sup -1/ for both RDX and HMX. This suggests that the rate controlling process in the decomposition of both is same.