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Kinetics and mechanisms of thermal decomposition of nitroaromatic explosives

Journal Article · · Chemical Reviews; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/cr00024a005· OSTI ID:5433415
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

A large amount of work has been conducted on decomposition processes of polynitroaromatics. Of the many conclusions reached, some are contradictory, many are perplexing, some are in unavailable government documents, and others are in untranslated, poorly circulated (at least in the US) Russian literature. This article is an attempt to assess critically the literature of decomposition processes of polynitroaromatic compounds and to come to some conclusions about the dominant thermal mechanisms, especially in the bulk condensed phase where they begin to react as explosives. First, it is necessary to outline why thermal decomposition mechanisms of explosives have produced divergent literature. Treacheries of the materials aside, the complications and realities of thermolysis processes of relatively large molecules in their bulk state and the restrictions on measurements are highlighted in the first section of this review. 238 refs.

OSTI ID:
5433415
Journal Information:
Chemical Reviews; (United States), Journal Name: Chemical Reviews; (United States) Vol. 93:8; ISSN 0009-2665; ISSN CHREAY
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English