Decomposition of HMX in solid and liquid states under nanoconfinement

Abstract

The thermal properties of bulk and nanoconfined HMX were studied using differential scanning calorimetry in dynamic scanning mode at rates ranging from 0.3 to 100 °C/min. At the slowest heating rates, decomposition occurs in the solid phase; at intermediate heating rates, it starts in the solid phase, melts, and finishes with a faster rate of reaction in the liquid state; and at the highest heating rates, the decomposition is entirely in the liquid phase. The activation energy decreases with conversion and is highest for 12 nm-diameter pores. The decomposition reaction is accelerated for nanoconfined HMX compared to the bulk with the onset of decomposition decreased by 1–5 °C in 50 nm-diameter pores and by 4–11 °C in 12 nm-diameter pores. The kinetics of decomposition is well described by a first-order autocatalytic reaction model with the reaction rate constants increasing with nanoconfinement. In addition, the reaction rate constant is one order of magnitude higher in the melt state than in the solid state.