Influence of DSC Measurement Conditions on Kinetic Parameters of Thermal Decomposition of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

An autocatalytic model involving the limited solubility of volatile catalytic products was applied to the thermal decomposition of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. The critical supersaturation of the thermal decomposition products with the catalytic properties was higher at a low heating rate. Decrease of the sample mass led to an increased critical supersaturation of the decomposition products. This is probably a result of the greater contribution of products adsorption on the aluminium pan surface. It is presumed that the differences observed in the rate constant are connected with the uncontrolled critical supersaturation of the volatile thermal decomposition products. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.