Thermally enhanced FTIR spectroscopy applied to study of explosives stability
J. Wojtas, Mateusz Szala
Abstract
Thermally Enhanced Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (TE-FTIR) is a new method applied to examination of thermal stability of energetic materials. Three melt-cast explosives: 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT); 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and propylnitroguanidine (PrNQ) were selected for testing. The obtained results revealed new facts about the stability of tested explosives and explosives in general. They clearly showed that PrNQ was subject to decomposition in a violent manner with similar level to TNT. DNAN was the most stable amongst the tested compounds. The profiles of gaseous decomposition products and their changes with temperatures registered with TE-FTIR were characteristic and permitted the identification of the explosive according to its decomposition products. The determination of the slope angle of gas emission peaks during the decomposition of the tested explosive may become a new parameter characterizing its thermal stability. This makes possible the construction of compact and portable tools for rapid testing of explosives even in the field conditions.