RADIATION CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITION OF MERCURY FULMINATE

The radiation-chemical decomposition of mercury fulminate was studied by the chemical analysis method according to the loss of fulminate ion . The decomposition of mercury fulminate upon irradiation begins at 77 K. The radiation-chemical yields of decomposition were obtained for d ifferent temperatures. In spite of the fact that mercury fulminate has very low radiation stability, the properties of its radiolysis are ba sically the same as the well-known properties of the radiolysis of oth er initiating explosives.