STUDIES ON KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF INITIAL THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OFNITROCELLULOSE - ISOTHERMAL AND NONISOTHERMAL TECHNIQUES

The thermal decomposition of nitrocellulose (NC) 12.1% N, has been stu died with regard to kinetics, mechanism, morphology and the gaseous pr oducts thereof, using thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal anal ysis (DTA), IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) a nd hot stage microscopy. The kinetics of the initial stage of thermoly sis of NC in condensed state has been investigated by isothermal high temperature infrared spectroscopy (IR). The decomposition of NC in KBr matrix in the temperature range of 142-151 degrees C shows rapid decr ease in O-NO2 band intensity, suggesting that the decomposition of NC occurs by the rupture of O-NO2 bond. The energy of activation for this process has been determined with the help of Avrami-Erofe'ev equation (n=1) and is approximate to 188.35 kJ . mol(-1). Further, the IR spec tra of the decomposition products in the initial stage of thermal deco mposition of NC, indicates the presence of mainly NO2 gas and aldehyde .