Thermal analysis of black powder

While there is abundant literature describing the factors affecting the performance and the mechanical sensitivity of black powder, only a few papers are devoted to its thermal properties. Previous work indicated that no exothermic reactions were observed below 300°C in an inert gas environment. In the present work a variety of thermal techniques (DSC, TG, simultaneous TG-DTA-FTIR-MS, ARC, HFC) has been used to study the thermal decomposition of black powder. Exothermic reactions were observed at temperatures as low as 230 and 140°C in inert and oxidizing atmospheres, respectively. The latter exothermic reaction is due to sulfur oxidation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.