Chemical features, decompositions solids

The thermal decomposition of a solid, which necessarily (on the above definition) incorporates a chemical step, is sometimes associated with the physical transformations to which passing reference was made above melting, sublimation, and recrystallization. Aspects of the relationships between physical transitions and decomposition reactions of solids are discussed in a book by Budnikov and Ginstling [1]. Since, in general, phase changes exert significant influence upon concurrent or subsequent chemical processes, it is appropriate to preface the main survey of the latter phenomena with a brief account of those features of melting, sublimation, and recrystallization which are relevant to the consideration of thermal decomposition reactions. 

A distinguishing feature of explosives is the rapidity with which the chemical decomposition proceeds into the unreacted body of the explosive. Solid explosives are chemical compounds or mixtures of compounds that, when initiated by energy in the form of shock, impact, heat, friction, or spark, undergo very fast chemical decomposition reactions [3]. The decomposition takes place in the absence of an external supply of oxygen or other oxidizer. Thus the reaction releases large amounts of heat and gas that are used to perform work in the surroundings. 

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