Tl. Zhang et al., PREPARATION AND MECHANISM OF THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF ALKALI-METAL (LI, NA AND K) SALTS OF 3-NITRO-1,2,4-TRIAZOL-5-ONE, Journal of thermal analysis, 39(7), 1993, pp. 827-847
Three alkali metal salts of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) -ere pre
pared and characterized. These salts are all hydrates: M(NTO)-nH2O; wh
en M is Li, Na and K, n is 2, 1 and 1, respectively. Their C-13 NMR an
d infrared spectra are reported. Their thermal decomposition mechanism
s and kinetic parameters from ambient temperature to 600-degrees-C wer
e studied under conditions of linear temperature increase. Although al
l three salts are alkali metal salts, their thermal decomposition mech
anisms are very different. Li(NTO).2H2O undergoes dehydration in only
one step, whereas Na(NTO).H2O and K(NTO).H2O do so in two steps; 0.5 a
nd 0.8 molecules water, respectively, are lost in the first step, and
the remainder in the second step. Infrared spectroscopic and thermal g
ravimetric studies verify that the final residue of Li(NTO).2H2O decom
position is lithium carbonate, while Na(NTO).H2O decomposes through th
e intermediate sodium cyanate to sodium cyanide and sodium carbonate,
and K(NTO).H2O does so through the intermediate potassium cyanate to p
otassium cyanide and potassium carbonate. According to the main decomp
osition peak temperatures, their thermal resistance decreases in the s
equence: Li(NTO).2H2O > Na(NTO).H2O > K(NTO).H2O