Catalytic effect of catocene on the thermal decomposition kinetic of NTO and NTO/TNT explosives

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Applied Chemistry, Maleke-ashtar University of Technology, Shahin-shahr, Esfahan, I. R. Iran

Abstract

The catalytic effect of catocene was studied on the kinetic of thermal decomposition of NTO (3-Nitro-1, 2, 4-triazol-5-one) and NTO/TNT (Trinitrotoluene) explosives. NTO is an insensitive explosive and can use as an alternative of many nitramine explosives and thus composite explosive of NTO/TNT shows the properties of an insensitive explosive. FT-IR spectra show the minor changes in molecular bonds of NTO and TNT with addition of catocene. SEM-EDS (Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) analysis indicates the morphology of prepared samples and presence of catalyst in the matrix of samples. TG/DSC (Thermal Gravimetry/Differential Scanning Calorimetery) method is used to study the thermal behaviour of NTO and NTO/TNT in absence and presence of 3% wt. of catocene. A decrease 5 oC in exothermic peak temperature of DSC curves and a decrease 50 kJ/mol in activation energy (Ea) of thermal decomposition reactions of NTO and NTO/TNT are seen in presence of catocene. The activation energies are calculated by model-free methods of Ozawa–Flynn–Wall (OFW), and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS). Tests of sensitivity to impact, friction, and electric discharge show the stability of NTO and NTO/TNT against external stimuli in the presence of catalyst.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Applied Chemistry Today

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 April 2025

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics