Thermal Stability Studies Comparing IMX‐101 (Dinitroanisole/Nitroguanidine/NTO) to Analogous Formulations Containing Dinitrotoluene

Abstract

The 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) replacement, IMX‐101, containing 43.5 % 2,4‐dinitroanisole (DNAN), 19.7 % 3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one (NTO) and 36.8 % nitro‐guanidine (NQ), has been certified for use as an insensitive munition. IMX‐101 has passed standardized performance, stability, and aging tests but in some categories was not necessarily an improvement over TNT or RDX. This study compared the thermal stability of DNAN and another low‐melting nitroarene, 2,4‐dinitrotoulene (DNT). When examined individually, DNAN was more stable; but formulated in IMX‐101 with NTO and NQ, the opposite was true. In two part mixtures, NQ had a similar acceleratory effect on the decomposition of both nitroarenes, while NTO had a greater impact on DNAN than on NTO. Ammonia, a reported decomposition product of both NQ and NTO, also accelerated the decomposition of both DNAN and DNT, with a larger impact on DNAN. The formation of dinitroaniline, potentially due to the interaction between the nitroarenes and ammonia, was detected by LC/MS as a decomposition product when either nitroarene was combined with NTO and/or NQ, indicating that this molecule may play a significant role in the decomposition mechanism. While not advocating the use of DNT in insensitive munitions formulations, this study addresses the importance of chemical compatibility as a criterion for selecting replacement components in formulations.

Evaluation of small-scale combustion of an insensitive high explosive formulation containing 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), and 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)

“…DNAN was the most volatile of the three substances we tested (Cuddy, Poda, and Chappell 2014). Recent decomposition tests revealed evidence of decomposition at 200-300 ºC after 5 days of continuous heating (Jimmie C. Oxley et al 2016). Our data support the hypothesis that DNAN sublimes, drawing energy from the system and reducing the energy available for ignition of NTO and RDX thus increasing the quantity of residual solids.…”

“…Much of the decomposition data available for energetic materials has been generated by conducting thermodegradation and thermostability tests, in many cases by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) (Jimmie C. Oxley et al 2016;Cuddy, Poda, and Chappell 2014;Kim et al 2016;T. B. Brill, Gongwer, and Williams 1994).…”

Effects of nitroguanidine on the thermal behavior and burning characteristics of 5-amino-1H-tetrazole-based propellants

“…In Stage II, the main exothermic peak occurred at approximately 753 K, with rapid mass losses of 17.5% and 22.9% for P1 and P2, respectively, during this stage. Previous work 36,37 Fig. 2 TG-DTG-DSC curves for (a) P1 and (b) P2 at a heating rate of 10 K min À1 .…”

Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Bis-Gem-Dinitroethyl Derivatives of N-Nitraminoacetic Acid

“…Реакционная способность полифункциональных нитросоединений в реакции термического разложения в течение нескольких десятилетий является предметом исследования и представляет практический интерес [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Для многих моно-и полинитросоединений на базе алифатических, алициклических и ароматических структур установлены кинетические закономерности и лимитирующая стадия реакции.…”