ISSN:
0721-3115
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
The kinetic deuterium isotope effect was used to investigate the rate-limiting process in the combustion of formulated nitramine propellants. Model propellant formulations containing either octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), or their deuteriated analogues were pressed into pellets and burned under nitrogen pressure in a window bomb. The magnitudes of the observed deuterium isotope effects indicate that the HMX and RDX exert significant control over the combustion phenomenon of the propellants studied. Furthermore, assuming a consistent mechanism between decomposition and combustion, the observed isotope effects suggest that a carbon-hydrogen bond rupture in HMX or RDX is the rate-controlling step in the combustion of the model nitramine propellants. Observed isotope effect values for HMX-CW5 and RDX-CW5 formulated propellants at 1000 psig (6.99 MPa) pressure were 1.29 ± 0.09 and 1.24 ± 0.07, respectively, compared to a theoretical estimate of 1.29 for a primary effect due to C—H bond rupture at 673 K.
Additional Material:
7 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/prep.19940190108
Permalink
