Isothermal Decomposition Kinetics and Mechanistic Insights Into CL‐20/TNT Molten Systems Derived From Cocrystal and Physical Mixture Precursors
Huan Peng, Jian Guan, Liqiong Luo, Rufang Peng, Bo JinABSTRACT
The influence of precursor state on the liquid‐phase decomposition behavior of CL‐20/TNT melt systems remains unclear. Equimolar (1:1) CL‐20/TNT systems derived from a cocrystal and a physical mixture were investigated under isothermal conditions using pressure measurements, kinetic analyses, and HPLC. The cocrystal‐derived molten system exhibited a distinct decomposition‐rate turning point, with the apparent activation energy increasing from 157.47 kJ·mol − 1 before the turning point to 208.61 kJ·mol − 1 after the turning point, whereas the physical‐mixture‐derived molten system exhibited a lower value of 121.64 kJ·mol − 1 . HPLC analysis showed preferential consumption of TNT before the turning point in the cocrystal‐derived molten system, whereas both components exhibited similar consumption behaviors in the physical‐mixture‐derived molten system. The different component‐consumption behaviors were accompanied by different evolutions of the molten‐system composition and apparent kinetic characteristics. These results demonstrate that the precursor state before melting plays an important role in determining the subsequent liquid‐phase decomposition behavior of CL‐20/TNT melt systems.