Study on the isothermal decomposition kinetics and mechanism of nitrocellulose

Nitrocellulose (NC) was investigated via an improved isothermal decomposition dynamics research instrument at temperature intervals from 378.15 to 398.15 K. Arrhenius equation and model-fitting method were used to calculate the thermal decomposition kinetic parameters. Results of these approaches were consistent, with an average E-a of 144.7 kJ mol(-1) and lnA of 27.39. The storage life of NC was estimated using the Berthelot equation. Results showed that the effective storage life of NC at ambient temperature (298.15 K) was extrapolated to 10.57 years with the extent of reaction reaching 0.1% and 52.91 years with the extent of reaction reaching 0.5%. The thermodecomposition gas and residues of NC were verified by GC, FT-IR, and SEM. The possible reaction mechanism of the isothermal decomposition of NC was provided.