Ammonium chlorate

Pure sodium and potassium chlorates do not possess explosive properties, but in earlier times were important components of the most widely used explosive mixtures (Vol. III). Also some complex salts of chloric acid possess initiating properties (Vol. III). Chlorates of nitrogen bases are explosives and deserve some attention. In particular, ammonium chlorate should be mentioned owing to the part it has played in the history of explosives. 

Ammonium chlorate, NH4C103, is a substance that undergoes explosive decomposition according to the equation  

The rate of detonation of ammonium chlorate of density 0.9 g/cm3 is 3300 m/sec, and its expansion in the lead block test is about 250 cm3. Ammonium chlorate is sensitive to impact it explodes if a 2-kg weight is dropped on it from a height of 15-20 cm. It takes fire from the flame produced by a safety fuse, and if confined the flame causes it to explode. 

Ammonium chlorate is non-hygroscopic, but dissolves readily in water. It decomposes with ease on keeping at room temperature, and very promptly at slightly higher temperatures. Galhaar [1] has stated that in 7 weeks it lost 80% of its weight. Explosion occured at 40°C after 11 hr, and at 70°C after only 45 min. 

Due to its low stability, the use of ammonium chlorate in explosive mixtures is out of the question. Furthermore it is not permissible to mix ammonium salts together with salts of chloric acid (e.g. ammonium nitrate with potassium chlorate, see Vol. Ill) [2], 

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Ammonia, hydrochloric acid, and sodium perchlorate are mixed and the reaction mixture crystallised in a vacuum-cooled crystalliser. Ammonium perchlorate crystals are centrifuged, reslurried, recentrifuged, and then dried and blended for shipment. Mother Hquor is evaporated to precipitate sodium chloride and the depleted mother Hquor is recycled to the reactor. The AP product made by this method is 99% pure and meets the specifications for propeUant-grade ammonium perchlorate. The impurities are ammonium chloride, sodium perchlorate, ammonium chlorate, and water insolubles. 

Ammonium chlorate Dead azide Silver azide... 

Ammonium Chlorates Explosive ammonium salts formed... 

MRH values Ammonium bromate 4.52/82, ammonium chlorate 6.36/76, ammonium perchlorate 6.53/70, barium bromate 3.97/76, barium chlorate 4.85/72, calcium bromate 5.02/70, calcium chlorate 6.53/62, potassium bromate 4.56/73, potassium chlorate 5.81/56, potassium perchlorate 6.07/63, silver chlorate 4.60/73, sodium bromate 4.85/70, sodium chlorate 6.90/63, sodium perchlorate 6.69/60... 

Addition of ammonium chloride to a drum of weed-killer was suspected as the cause of a violent explosion (involving formation of ammonium chlorate) [1]. Mixtures, used for smoke compositions, are hazardous [2],... 

Ammonium salts, Chlorate salts MRH Ammonium chlorate 9.07/74... 

The mixture ignites when wet owing to formation of unstable ammonium chlorate, and combustion of the metal is very intense. 

Ammonium amidoselenate, 4557 Ammonium amidosulfate, 4556 Ammonium bromate, 0252 Ammonium chlorate, 4003... 

Ammonium chlorate, NH C10 3, S an extremely unstable com- pound that decomposes violentiy at temperatures well below 100 C. If a mixture containing both potassium chlorate and an ammonium salt is prepared, there is a good possibility that an exchange reaction will occur — especially in the presence of moisture - to form some of the ammonium chlorate... 

Ammonium Chlorate, used in Brown Powder of compn Aram chlorate 51.5, Ba nitrate 34.5, TNNaphthalene with oil 8.2 woodpulp 5.0% (adds to 99.2%). Found as a booster in bombs for demolition (Ref 1, p 32)... 

Figure A.22 Ammonium chlorate low explosive, incendiary, pyrotechnic material.

The converse obviously applies to ammonium nitrate explosives, which must not contain any chlorates, since during storage a double exchange reaction may occur resulting in the formation of ammonium chlorate (p. 476, Vol. II), an unstable substance which decomposes spontaneously. A number of patents were taken out between 1880 and 1895, for explosives based on the use of ammonium chlorate or mixtures of ammonium nitrate with potassium or sodium chlorate. Many accidents which occurred through the spontaneous decomposition of these explosives proved the impossibility of using mixtures containing both chlorates and ammonium salts (Hantke [79]). 

Another constituent of perchlorate explosives, ammonium perchlorate, unlike ammonium chlorate, is stable. It is also dissimilar to potassium perchlorate in being an explosive in the pure state, like ammonium nitrate. The greater specific gravity of ammonium perchlorate gives to explosives with which it is mixed a greater power than that of similar ammonium nitrate explosives. The former are also more sensitive than chlorate explosives to friction and impact and to thermal ignition. 

Ammonium Chlorate Explosives. See Cheddites, Vol 2, pp C155 to C161... 

Ammonium Bichromate(Dichromate). See under Chromates, Bichromates, etc Ammonium Borate. See under Borates Ammonium Bromate, See under Bromates Ammonium Carbamotes. See under Carbamate Ammonium Corbonote. See under Carbonates Ammonium Chlorate. See under Chlorates Ammonium Chloride. See under Chlorides Ammonium Chromate. See under Chromates Ammonium Cobaltlc Hexanitrate. See Ammonium Hexanitrocobaltate... 

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