A Chemiluminescence Study of Oxides of Nitrogen Evolved from Propellants

摘要

A chemiluminescence NO(x) analyser has been used to study nitrogen oxides evolution from single-base and double-base propellants as well as from their nitrate ester ingredients. The technique has illustrated the importance of total oxides of nitrogen as a means of determining the rate at which these materials decompose. The potential of the method as a rapid and unambiguous means of assessing factors such as stability and compatibility is shown. The high sensitivity of chemiluminescence has also permitted the examination of the effect of temperature on decomposition rate down to ambient levels. Consequently one is able to identify changes in the decomposition mechanism as one goes from normal storage temperatures to elevated test temperatures. (Author)