| Abstract
| - The thermal decomposition of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Activation energies as a function ofthe extent of conversion, α, have been determined by model-free isoconversional analysis of these data. Inopen pans, evaporation is a prevalent process with an activation energy of ∼100 kJ mol-1. Confining thesystem in either a pierced pan or a closed pan promotes liquid state decomposition of RDX that occurs withan activation energy of ∼200 kJ mol-1, which suggests scission of an N−N bond as the primary decompositionstep. In such a confined environment, gas phase decomposition is a competing channel with an activationenergy estimated to be ∼140 kJ mol-1. In a closed pan, RDX generates a heat release of ∼500 kJ mol-1 thatis independent of both the heating rate, β, and the mass.
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