PREPARATION AND MECHANISM OF THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF ALKALI-METAL (LI, NA AND K) SALTS OF 3-NITRO-1,2,4-TRIAZOL-5-ONE

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