Nitromethane thermal decomposition rate

EFFECTS OF PRESSURE ON THE THERMAL DECOMPOSITION RATES, CHEMICAL REACTIVITY AND PHASE BEHAVIOR OF HMX, RDX AND NITROMETHANE... 

At elevated pressures, the thermal decomposition of nitromethane is expected to behave differently from HMX and RDX. Previously reported time-to-explosion measurements on nitromethane up to 5 GPa indicate that pressure decreases the time required to achieve an explosion [26]. As a result of this behavior, pressure is expected to increase the thermal decomposition rate in nitromethane. 

The results illustrate the complexity of the nitromethane thermal decomposition reaction. More than one kinetic mechanism and/or catalytic effect may be present. However, the results show definitely a positive pressure enhancement of the reaction rate. As described in reference 10, from the expression ... 

Recently Lee et al (Ref 3) re-examined the behavior of PETN under 10 to 50 kbars of external pressure. They also find a reduction in decomposition rate with increasing applied pressure. HMX behaves similarly to PETN. TNT whose explosion products contain a high proportion of solid carbon, as expected from LeChatelier s Principle, shows little pressure effect on its thermal decomposition. Nitro-methane, however, appears to decompose more rapidly under an external pressure of 50 kbars than 10 kbars. This effect is not completely understood but Lee et al suggest that high pressure may favor the formation of the thermally less stable aci form of Nitromethane ... 

The products of the thermolysis of 3-phenyl-5-(arylamino)-l,2,4-oxadiazoles and thiazoles have been accounted for by a radical mechanism.266 Flash vacuum pyrolysis of 1,3-dithiolane-1-oxides has led to thiocarbonyl compounds, but the transformation is not general.267 hi an ongoing study of silacyclobutane pyrolysis, CASSF(4,4), MR-CI and CASSCF(4,4)+MP2 calculations using the 3-21G and 6-31G basis sets have modelled the reaction between silenes and ethylene, suggesting a cyclic transition state from which silacyclobutane or a trcins-biradical are formed.268 An AMI study of the thermolysis of 1,3,3-trinitroazacyclobutane and its derivatives has identified gem-dinitro C—N bond homolysis as the initial reaction.269 Similar AMI analysis has determined the activation energy of die formation of NCh from methyl nitrate.270 Thermal decomposition of nitromethane in a shock tube (1050-1400 K, 0.2-40 atm) was studied spectrophotometrically, allowing determination of rate constants.271... 

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