Detonable pyrolant

Sodium azide is not as sensitive as lead azide or silver azide to friction or mechanical shock. Since sodium azide reacts with metal oxides to generate nitrogen gas, mixtures of sodium azide and metal oxides are used as pyrolants in gas generators. However, sodium azide reacts with copper and silver to form the corresponding azides, both of which are detonable pyrolants. 

The secondary amine that was used could be tetrahydrocarbazole or pyrol. The reaction was known and not mentioned as being dangerous. The authors of this new experiment used four times the amounts recommended in the method published. They also introduced the ionic compound at 0°C and stopped the cooling rapidly. These changes were sufficient to cause the medium to heat up and then detonate. It was considered to be due to the nitrile polymerisation caused by ammonium salt. 

Pyrolants deflagration detonation gas generators, igniters, fireworks, squibs, safety fuses detonators, primers, initiators, detonating fuses... 

Lead azide (Pb(N3)2), sodium azide (NaN3), and silver azide (AgN3) are azides of metals. Since these metal azides are very sensitive to mechanical shock and easy to detonate, these are used as pyrolants for initiators and igniters of propellants and explosives. 

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