Evaporation of Plasticizer from NEPE Type Propellant

Abstract

Using the method of dynamic thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry in the heating rate range 0.46–10.0 deg^–1 min^–1, evaporation of the plasticizer from propellant samples of the NEPE type was investigated. The experiments were carried out in an open system in a flow of pure argon at atmospheric pressure. Nitroglycerin is the main mass fraction of the plasticizer. The activation energy E of the gross evaporation–diffusion process is determined by various methods. Heat of evaporation of the plasticizer ΔH_v is estimated. It is shown that in the early stage of evaporation the values of E and ΔH_v practically coincide. At a temperature of 298.15 K ΔH_v = 89 ± 4 kJ mol^–1, which is in satisfactory agreement with the literature data for heat of evaporation of pure nitroglycerin. With any way of preventing free removal of the plasticizer from the surface of the samples on the DSC thermograms successive exothermic peaks of the thermal decomposition of the plasticizer and the octogen are observed, which are not realized in the open system for the indicated heating rates at T < 190°C.