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Thermal decomposition of CL-20 via a self-modified dynamic vacuum stability test

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Abstract

The thermal decomposition of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12-hexanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) is examined via a self-modified dynamic vacuum stability test at temperature intervals of 130–170 °C. The p versus t curves indicate the multistep thermal decomposition of CL-20 and its autocatalytic behavior. The reaction rate constant k is 3.07 × 10−8, 9.61 × 10−8, 27.25 × 10−8, 133.31 × 10−8, and 387.94 × 10−8 s−1 at 130, 140, 150, 160, and 170 °C, respectively. The polymorphic transformation of CL-20 and certain products may affect kinetic output. The activation energy is 182.5 kJ mol−1, which shows good agreement with previously published results. The storage life of CL-20 at 50, 70, 90, 110, and 130 °C are estimated using the Semenov equation. At 130 °C, the storage life of CL-20 is extrapolated to 18.14 h, 8.20, 21.22, and 27.30 days, while taking the reaction extents of 1, 2, 3, and 4%, respectively, as the end points of life. These values correspond to the values obtained in the present work.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for financial support from the China Academy of Engineering Physics Research Institute of Safety and Ammunition Research and Development Center (project no. RMC2015B01), Open Project of State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Nonmetal Composites and Functional (project no. 14zdfk05) and Southwest University of Science and Technology Outstanding Youth Foundation (project no. 13zx9107).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Nonmetal Composites and Functional Materials, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, China

    Yiyi Xiao, Bo Jin, Rufang Peng, Qingchun Zhang, Qiangqiang Liu & Shijin Chu

  2. School of National Defence Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China

    Zhicheng Guo

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  1. Yiyi Xiao
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Correspondence to Bo Jin.

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Xiao, Y., Jin, B., Peng, R. et al. Thermal decomposition of CL-20 via a self-modified dynamic vacuum stability test. J Therm Anal Calorim 128, 1833–1840 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-6016-3

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