A link between impact sensitivity of energetic compounds and their activation energies of thermal decomposition

Abstract

A new relationship is introduced between impact sensitivity of energetic compounds and their activation energies of thermal decomposition. In this relationship, the impact sensitivity of an energetic compound with general formula CaHbNcOd is a function of its activation energy of thermal decomposition as well as the ratio of $$ \left( {\frac{{n_{\text{H}} }}{{n_{\text{O}} }}} \right) $$ and the contribution of specific molecular structural parameters. The new correlation can help us to elucidate the mechanism of initiation of energetic materials by impact. It can be used to predict the magnitude of impact sensitivity of new energetic materials. The new correlation has the root mean square and the average deviations of 2.22 and 1.79 J, respectively, for 40 energetic compounds with different molecular structures. The proposed new method is also tested for 11 energetic compounds, which have complex molecular structures, e.g., 4,10-dinitro-2,6,8,12-tetraoxa-4,10-diazaisowurtzitane and 1,3,7,9-tetranitrophenoxazine.