Degradation of aged nitrocellulose investigated by thermal analysis and chemiluminescence

Non-isothermal thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and chemiluminescence were used for characterization of degradation of pre-aged nitrocellulose in order to elucidate the optimal route of extrapolation of rate constants from the region of the autoaccelerated reaction to lower temperatures. First order rate constants, the one characterizing the decomposition of nitrocellulose in the rate auto-accelerating region and the two constants corresponding to the slow process in induction period of nitrocellulose decomposition were shown to provide a sufficient description. The rate constants determined for several temperatures were shown to depend on the amount of char residue which is formed from pre-aged samples after the thermogravimetry runs from 40 to 550 degrees C.