On the Chemicokinetic Basis for the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Explosives

摘要

The composition of the gaseous products of combustion of a number of secondary and initiating explosive substances was determined, mainly at atmospheric pressure. The combustion took place in a test tube filled with nitrogen and connected with a rubber balloon to which the gaseous products of the combustion were passed. The results of the analyses and also the computed temperatures of the combustion are given in a table. To make the picture more complete, there are included in the table data obtained earlier for some nitroesters. In the case of all the secondary explosive substances the greater part (from 100 to 50%) of the nitrogen is given off in the form of oxide. The initiating explosive substances either do not form (mercury fulminate), (trinitrotriazidobenzene) nitric oxides or they form them to a very small extent. Potassium picrate in this relationship (as in accordance with its position between secondary and initiating explosive substances) occupies an intermediate place.