Thermal characterization of the promising energetic material TKX-50

Abstract

The thermal behavior of dihydroxylammonium 5,5′-bistetrazole-1,1′-diolate (TKX-50) was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR) and thermal gravimetric analysis–differential scanning calorimetry–mass spectrometry (TG-DSC-MS). The critical temperature of thermal explosion (T b) and the initial decomposition temperature (T p0) were determined to be 523.39 and 513.80 K, respectively. The apparent activation energy (E) and pre-exponential factor (A) of the exothermic decomposition reaction, and activation entropy (ΔS ≠), activation enthalpy (ΔH ≠), activation Gibbs free energy (ΔG ≠) at T P0 of the reaction and the critical temperature of thermal explosion (T b) were calculated: E K = 237.59 kJ mol−1, E O = 234.11 kJ mol−1, ΔS ≠ = 209.83 J K−1 mol−1, ΔH ≠ = 233.32 kJ mol−1, ΔG ≠ = 126.53 kJ mol−1. TG-DSC-FTIR/MS analysis of thermal decomposition products of TKX-50 reveals that the main decomposition products are N2, H2O, NH3, NH2, N2O and NO.