Kinetic Parameters of PBX Based on Cis‐1,3,4,6‐tetranitroocta‐hydroimidazo‐[4,5‐d] imidazole Obtained by Isoconversional Methods using Different Thermal Analysis Techniques

Abstract

Abstract The thermal decomposition kinetics of the interesting polycyclic nitramine cis ‐1,3,4,6‐tetranitrooctahydroimidazo‐[4,5‐d]imidazole (BCHMX) and its polymer bonded explosive (PBX) based on polyurethane matrix, have been investigated using different thermal analysis techniques and methods. The used polyurethane matrix is based on hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) cured by hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used nonisothermally, whereas the vacuum stability test (VST) was used isothermally. Kinetic parameters were determined by using isoconversional (model‐free) methods. Furthermore, the Advanced Kinetics and Technology Solution (AKTS) software was used to determine the kinetic parameters of the studied samples in order to provide a comparison. It was found that the decomposition temperature of BCHMX/HTPB is lower than that of pure BCHMX. All the applied techniques as well as computational results showed that BCHMX/HTPB has a lower activation energy than pure BCHMX. The different methods used, Kissinger, Ozawa, Flynn, and Wall (OFW) and Kissinger‐Akahira‐Sunose (KAS) methods presented activation energies in the same range of the AKTS software results. Also the results proved that VST technique could be a useful tool to present results suitable for calculation of the kinetic parameters of explosives.