Non-isothermal kinetics and thermal hazard of CMDB propellant with higher RDX content①

JIA Hao-nan，AN Zhen-tao，JIANG Jin-yong，JIA Hai-dong，XIE Yong-liang

(1.Ordnance Engineering College,Shijiazhuang 050000,China；2.Ordnance Technology Research Institute,Shijiazhuang 050000,China；3.Unit 92207,Shijiazhuang 050100,China)



Non-isothermal kinetics and thermal hazard of CMDB propellant with higher RDX content①

JIA Hao-nan1，AN Zhen-tao1，JIANG Jin-yong2，JIA Hai-dong3，XIE Yong-liang3

(1.Ordnance Engineering College,Shijiazhuang 050000,China；2.Ordnance Technology Research Institute,Shijiazhuang 050000,China；3.Unit 92207,Shijiazhuang 050100,China)

To evaluate thermal decomposition behaviors and thermal hazard of the composite modified double base(CMDB)propellant with higher RDX content,a domestic developed CMDB propellant with approximate 50% RDX(named GHT-1A),was investigated by thermogravimetry(TG),differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),micro reaction calorimetry(μRC)and accelerating rate calorimetry(ARC).TG and DSC results show the exothermic decomposition process of GHT-1A can be divided into two stages.The values of the apparent activation energy(Ea)and pre-exponential constant(A)of the two stages are:Ea1=148.4 kJ mol-1,lgA1=14.8 s-1,andEa2=175.1 kJ mol-1,lgA2=16.5 s-1.The chemical reaction mechanisms both obey the Avrami-Erofeev equation.The critical temperature of the thermal explosion of GHT-1A derived from DSC data is 212.0 ℃.The specific heat capacity of GHT-1A was determined by μRC.The calculation results show that the adiabatic time-to-explosion of GHT-1A is 22.7 min.ARC results reveal the adiabatic decomposition behaviors of GHT-1A,and a mass of adiabatic parameters were derived directly or by inertia factor modifying.The adiabatic time-to-explosion obtained by ARC is 8.9 min shorter than the front.TD24estimated by adiabatic reaction kinetics is 120.8 ℃.Based on these results,the thermal hazard of the CMDB propellant with high content of RDX was analyzed preliminarily.

CMDB propellant；non-isothermal decomposition kinetics；adiabatic decomposition；specific heat capacity；adiabatic time-to-explosion；thermal hazard

List of symbols

ms(b)Mass of sample or closed-bomb

TstepTemperature step of ARC test

twaitScanning waiting time

sSensitivity

EaApparent activation energy，kJ·mol-1

Eo(k)Value ofEaby Ozawa’s or Kissinger’s method，kJ·mol-1

Ao(k)Pre-exponential factor by Ozawa’s or Kissinger’s method，s-1

βLinear heating rate，℃·min-1

T0Onset temperature，℃

TpPeak temperature，℃

RGas constant，J·K-1·mol-1

αFraction of conversion

f(α)Kinetics mechanism differential function

G(α)Kinetics mechanism integral function

TeOnset temperature of non-isothermal decomposition，℃

Te0Tecorresponding toβ→0，℃

ΔHdExothermic heat，J·g-1

rLinear correlation coefficients

TbCritical temperature of thermal explosion，℃

QStandard mean square deviation

Q0Total heat of reaction，J

ΦThermal inertia factor

ΔTadTemperature rise under adiabatic condition，℃

TfFinal temperature of decomposition，℃

MmaxMaximum exothermic rate，℃·min-1

tadAdiabatic time-to-explosion，min

PmaxMaximum pressure，bar

PmaxM-1Maximum pressure per unit mass，bar·g-1

PmaxrMaximum pressure rate，bar·min-1

MT，sTemperature rise rate of system，℃·min-1

MTPhi-correctedMT，s，℃·min-1

TD24Environment temperature whentad=1440 min，℃

kReaction rate constant

0 Introduction

Since CMDB propellant containing ammonium nitrate has the advantages of high energy,low signature and good combustion performance,etc.,it has become the priority selection of the propellant species on tactical missiles and high-tech rockets[1].Besides,in order to meet the requirements of the range of fire,the contents of high energy explosive(RDX),for example,is gradually increased[2].

GHT-1A is a domestic developed CMDB propellant with higher RDX content up to 48.5 %.For containing a mass of high explosives,CMDB propellant not only has a strong self-decomposed characteristic,but also has an overall detonable property.Scholars at home and aboard always highly focused on the thermal hazard studies about explosives,as well as primary explosives,however less on CMDB propellant,especially with a mass of high energy solid.The risk of spontaneous combustion or detonation exists in the process of manufacture,storage and transportation of CMDB propellant,probably due to the self-decomposition and heat accumulation.Therefore,the non-isothermal decomposition kinetics,the specific heat capacity,adiabatic decomposition and the thermal hazard of GHT-1A is researched in this article.

1 Experimental

1.1 Sample

The sample used in the experiment is the CMDB propellant GHT-1A composed of 20.0 %(mass fraction)of NC,21.5 % of NG,48.5 % of RDX,and 10.0 % of other auxiliary additives.

1.2 Equipment and conditions

1.2.1 TG experiment

TG-DTG curves under the atmosphere of high purity nitrogen gas(flowing rate,20 cm3·min-1;atmospheric pressure)was obtained by using TGA1(Perkin Elmer Co.,USA).The conditions of TG were as follows:about 1.50 mg sample;heating rate:10 ℃·min-1.

1.2.2 DSC experiment

In this article,DSC apparatus used is DSC8000(Perkin Elmer Co.,USA).A small amount of sample(about 1 mg)was added into an aluminum-sealed crucible under the atmosphere of high purity nitrogen gas(flowing rate,20 cm3·min-1;atmospheric pressure).It was heated at constant rates(2.5,5,10,15,20 ℃·min-1)in the temperature ranging from 100 ℃ to 300 ℃.

1.2.3 Specific heat experiments

The specific heat capacity of GHT-1A was tested by μRC(THT Co.,UK)in five different temperatures(25,50,75,85,95 ℃).The sample mass is 517.57 mg.

1.2.4 ARC experiment

ARC curves under the adiabatic condition were obtained by using an ARC(THT Co.,UK).A titanium alloy closed-bomb was used in the experiment.The sample is 203.02 mg.The test conditions are listed in Table1.

Table1 Test conditions of ARC experiment

2 Results and discussion

2.1 Non-isothermal thermal decomposition behaviors of GHT-1A

TG-DTG curve at 10 ℃· min-1and DSC curves at different heating rates of the sample are shown in Fig.1 and Fig.2,respectively.The results show that there are two stages of the thermal decomposition of GHT-1A,and one decalescence process of RDX with the summit peak at 202.5 ℃ in DSC curves.The first exothermic peak is attributed to the decomposition of NC and NG,corresponding to 48.7% mass loss.The melting process of RDX,though,lies in the end of Stage 1,the heat absorbed is much lesser than the heat released.Stage 2 is caused by the exothermic decomposition reaction of RDX,accompanied by 34.6% mass loss,and there are still a few residues at the end of decomposition.

Fig.1 TG-DTG curves at heating rateof 10 ℃·min-1

2.2 Evaluation of non-isothermal reaction kinetics

In order to obtain the kinetic parameters(apparent activation energy(Ea)and pre-exponential constant(A))of the exothermic decomposition reaction for GHT-1A,two multiple heating methods,Kissinger’s method and Ozawa’s method[3-4],were employed.The original values(Te,Tpand ΔHd)of the two exothermic decomposition reactions are listed in Table2.The values(E,Aandr)determined by Kissinger’s method and Ozawa’s method are shown in Table3.

Fig.2 DSC curves at different heating rates

Table2 Parameters obtained from DSC curves atdifferent heating rates

Table3 Reaction kinetics determined by Kissinger’s method and Ozawa’s method

From the results,it can be seen that theEkis in good accordance withEo,besides that the linear correlation coefficientsrare all very close to 1.The results are credible.

To explore the thermal decomposition mechanism of the two exothermic reaction stages,DSC curves at heating rates of 2.5,10,20 ℃·min-1were dealt with mathematic means.Four integral Equ.(1)～(4)listed in Table4 were employed[5-9].

Forty-one types of kinetic model functions[5]and DSC data listed in Table5 were put into the integral equations above,respectively and for calculations.The values ofEa,lgA,rand standard mean square deviationQwere obtained by the linear least-squares method.The most probable mechanism function is selected by the better values ofrandQ.The results are listed in Table6.

Table4 Kinetic analysis methods

Table5 Data for decomposition processes of sample at different heating rates from DSC curves

It can be seen that the values ofEaand lgAobtained from a single non-isothermal DSC curve are in approximately good agreement with the values calculated by Kissinger’s method and Ozawa’s method.So that,the reaction mechanism of the two exothermal decomposition processes are both classified as nucleation and growth,and the mechanism function is the Avrami-Erofeev equation.The probable kinetic model functions of the processes are as follows:

Stage 1:

G1(α)=[-ln(1-α)]3/4

f1(α)=4/3(1-α)·[-ln(1-α)]1/4

Stage2:

G2(α)=[-ln(1-α)]1/3

f2(α)=3(1-α)·[-ln(1-α)]2/3

Substitutingf(α),EaandAintoEqu.(5):

(5)

Table6 Kinetic parameters of the exothermic decomposition realtion of GHT-1A

The kinetic equation of exothermal decomposition reaction can be described as:

Stage 1:

dα/dt=6.78×1011·(1-α)·[-ln(1-α)]1/4·

exp(-1.79×104/T)

Stage 2:

dα/dt=4.36×1012·(1-α)·[-ln(1-α)]2/3·

exp(-2.11×104/T)

2.3 Evaluation of critical temperature of thermal explosion (Tb)

The valueTe0of the onset temperatureTecorresponding toβ→0 obtained by using the data ofβiandTeiof stage 1 and 2 in Table2.Te0were calculated using:

(6)

whereb,canddare all coefficients[10].Te0of the two stages are 150.4 ℃ and 200.1 ℃,separately.

The correspondingTbobtained from Equ.(7)[5,11]using the above-mentioned values ofTe0,Eoof stage 2 is 212.0 ℃.

(7)

2.4 Evaluation of specific heat capacity and adiabatic time-to-explosion

As a result of using large amount of sample and wide range of measuring temperature,μRC has high accuracy and high application value in estimating crediblecpin wider range of temperature.

The determination and polynomial fit result of thecpof GHT-1A are shown in Fig.3.The result shows that thecpwith temperature iscp=4.96×10-7T3-4.61×10-4T2+0.14T-14.07 in the temperature range of 298.1～368.2 K.

Fig.3 Measurement results of cp of GHT-1A

The adiabatic time-to-explosion is time from the beginning of thermal decomposition to thermal explosion of sample under adiabatic conditions[12-15].It is an important parameter to evaluate the thermostability of energetic materials intuitively.It can be calculated by following Equ.(8).

(8)

Considering thatT001=Te01,Tend1=Te02,and submitting dynamic equations,the specific heat capacity functions and corresponding experimental results in to Equation,the adiabatic time-to-explosion can be worked out directly,and it is 22.7 min.

2.5 Adiabatic decomposition behaviors of GHT-1A

ARC is an effective means for evaluating thermal hazard of reactive chemicals[16-19].It can show the overall process of exothermic decomposition for a mass of sample and even the explosion under the adiabatic condition.

Fig.4 Curves of temperature rate,pressurerate and temperature

The relationship bamong temperature rate,pressure rate and temperature of GHT-1A. is shown in Fig.4,The

decomposition process can also be divided into two parts,just like the former results.In the temperature range of 140.8～187.1 ℃,the double-base components of NC and NG decompose slowly.With increasing of reaction depth,temperature rate rises up slowly at first and then decreases slightly,and the heat of sample accumulates gradually.In this stage,GHT-1A releases a small amount of gaseous product.After that,the reaction becomes violent.The self-heating rate as well as pressure rate rises up sharply in a very short time.And it corresponds to reaction of RDX.

Actually,the temperature recorded by ARC is not the real temperature of sample but the system of sample and closed-bomb.In the ideal adiabatic condition,the reaction heat should be devoted entirely to heating up the sample itself.Therefore,it is necessary to modify the experimental data by thermal inertia factorφbefore applying them into practice[20-21].The expression ofφis as follows:

(9)

ThethermaldecompositioncharacteristicsofGHT-1AisshowninTable7.Thetemperaturedataismodifiedbyφ,while the pressure data remains the same.Four important parameters derived from ARC experiment are onset temperatureT0,time-to-explosiontad,adiabatic temperature rise ΔTad,and maximum pressure per unit massPmax·M-1.Since the self-heating speed is concerned with temperature and time,the first two are the evaluation criteria for possibility of thermal explosion[22].The severity of explosion effect can be judged by the latter ones.It can be seen that the autocatalytic reaction of GHT-1A begins at a high temperature,and takes a long time to arrive at explosion.The great gaseous product and heat of the reaction will finally cause huge damage.

Table7 Thermal decomposition characteristics of GHT-1A(φ=12.6)

On the other hand,T0obtained from ARC experiment is 11.5 ℃ lower thanTe0from DSC experiment.While,tadis 8.9 min shorter than that estimated bycpand DSC data.

2.6 Evaluation of adiabatic reaction kinetics and TD24

In adiabatic system,EaandAcan be calculated by the following equation:

(10)

Since the reaction speed of the first process of decomposition reaction is much slower than the second one,it becomes the rate-controlling step.Therefore,the kinetic triplet of the first step is just need to be considered.Origin software is used to see the linearity of the raw data as shown in Fig.5.The reaction orderncalculated is 1,Eais 196.8 kJ mol-1,lgAis 46.4 s-1,and the linear correlation coefficient is high:0.998 1.

Fig.5 Linearity of lnk and

TD24is the temperature whentadequals to 1 440 min.The following formula is used to infer the relationship between the onset temperature andtad:

(11)

The calculated parameters and theφ-correctedtadare substituted into the Equ.(11).TD24of GHT-1A is obtained:120.8 ℃.

3 Conclusion

(1)The non-isothermal thermal behavior of GHT-1A studied with TG-DTG and DSC can be divided into two exothermic decomposition stages.The kinetic equations can be expressed respectively as:

Stage 1:

dα/dt=6.78×1011·(1-α)·[-ln(1-α)]1/4·

exp(-1.79×104/T)

Stage 2:

dα/dt=4.36×1012·(1-α)·[-ln(1-α)]2/3·

exp(-2.11×104/T)

The values ofEaand lgAof the two stages are 148.4 and 175.1 kJ·mol-1,14.8 and 16.5 s-1,respectively.The critical temperature of thermal explosion is 212.0 ℃.The equation of specific heat capacity for GHT-1A determined with μRC iscp=4.96×10-7T3-4.61×10-4T2+0.14T-14.07 (298.1 K

(2)The adiabatic thermal behavior of GHT-1A studied with ARC can also be divided into two stages.The raw temperature data recorded by ARC are not real but significant.It can reflect the worst case by means of modifying by inertia factor.The values ofT0is 138.9 ℃;tadis 13.8 min;ΔTadis 1 415.3 ℃;Mmis 3 243.8 ℃·min-1;PmM-1is 131.0 bar g-1.

(3)Judging from DSC and ARC results,there are noTabledifferences inT0andtad.It can be perceived that the data from ARC reflects a worse case of thermal decomposition for GHT-1A.Therefore,based on the point of safety assessment,ARC experiment should be considered seriously.

(4)The thermal hazard of GHT-1A was analyzed from two aspects,the self-heating speed and the possibility of explosion.SinceTD24is 120.8 ℃,GHT-1A has a good thermal stability,but a great attention also should be paid during manufacture,transportation,use,and storage for its great severity of explosion effect.

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(编辑：薛永利)

高RDX含量改性双基推进剂非等温反应动力学和热危险性

贾昊楠1，安振涛1，江劲勇2，贾海东3，谢永亮3

(1.军械工程学院，石家庄 050000；2.军械技术研究所，石家庄 050000；3.92207部队，石家庄 050100)

采用热重分析仪(TG)、差示扫描量热仪(DSC)、微量热仪(μRC)和加速量热仪(ARC)研究了一种国内自行研制的RDX含量接近50%的改性双基推进剂(GHT-1A)的热分解行为和热危险性。TG和DSC结果表明，GHT-1A的放热分解过程可分为2个阶段，表观活化能(Ea)和指前因子(A)按阶段分别为：Ea1=148.4 kJ mol-1，lgA1=14.8 s-1；Ea2=175.1 kJ mol-1，lgA2=16.5 s-1。2个阶段的化学反应机理函数均遵循Avrami-Erofeev方程。通过μRC研究了GHT-1A的比热容随温度的变化规律，结合DSC实验结果，计算得到了GHT-1A热爆炸临界温度为212.0 ℃，绝热至爆时间tad为22.7 min。ARC实验揭示了GHT-1A的绝热分解行为，并通过对实验数据进行热惰性因子修正，获得了大量绝热特性参数。由ARC实验得到的tad比由DSC计算得到的tad短8.9 min。由绝热反应动力学计算得到GHT-1A的TD24为120.8 ℃。基于以上结果，对GHT-1A的热危险性进行了初步的分析。

改性双基推进剂；非等温分解动力学；绝热分解；比热容；绝热至爆时间；热危险性

V512 Document code：A Article ID：1006-2793(2015)05-0689-08

10.7673/j.issn.1006-2793.2015.05.016

① Received date: 2015-06-08; Revised date: 2015-07-27。

Biography: JIA Hao-nan( 1987—) ，male，doctor，speciality: Ammunition support and security research． E-mail: 315797837@ qq． com