Summary: Dynamic mechanical analysis is combined with mass spectrometry to study nitrocellulose under oscillating strain. At a constant temperature (150–160 °C) and frequency (400–600 Hz) nitrocellulose fractures demonstrating a modulus drop and release of products with m/z: 30 and 44. At linear heating (2 °C · min?1) and a frequency of 10–50 Hz similar products are released in two steps, the second of which demonstrates a modulus drop and a temperature increase indicating ignition.
Data for an isothermal dynamic mechanical analysis–mass spectrometry experiment performed at 160 °C.
