Study of the thermal decomposition of pentaerythritol tetranitrate

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) has been studied below its m.p. 141 °C. Both sublimation and decomposition are found to occur concurrently. Decomposition begins at ca. 75 °C and pressure–time curves show an initial rapid acceleration in decomposition. An activation energy of 192 ± 5 kJ mol^–1 is obtained between 75 and 130 °C. It is suggested that decomposition takes pace in the vapour phase. Mass spectra of the decomposition products show that the distribution is temperature dependent.