Fast Thermolysis-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Methods to Study Energetic Materials

THOMAS B. BRILL Department of Chemistry University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 USA 

The problem focused on in our laboratory has been the behavior of energetic materials (propellants and explosives) at fast heating rates. This subject requires the description of complex physicochemical processes in the condensed phase and the near surface regime. New sample cells and experimental methods needed to be developed that simulate the dynamic 

To emphasize the importance of coworker contributions, the history of our work in this area can be traced. Fast Thermolysis/FTIR Spectroscopy originated in our proposal to the Aerospace Sciences Directorate of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research in the Spring of 1982. At that time the Nicolet 60SX FTIR spectrometer, the first truly rapid-scanning FTIR spectrometer, was about to be introduced, and was needed to make the program viable. 

I refer to the experiments of Karpowicz, Oyumi and Palopoli, as onedimensional because only one parameter of fast thermolysis, that of the gas species, was detected in real-time. I refer to the experiments of Cronin, Russell and Brush as two-dimensional because in addition to the gas species, a second important variable, the real-time temperature change of the condensed phase, is measured simultaneously with the evolved gases. The task of developing the first three-dimensional experiment, in which, in addition to real-time species and temperature change measurements, the 

Near Real-Time FTIR Spectra of Gases from Fast-Heated Compounds 

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FAST THERMOLYSIS-FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY METHODS TO STUDY ENERGETIC MATERIALS... 

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