The thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate at low temperatures

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate shows several unusual characteristics. The most striking of these is that at low temperatures it decomposes only to the extent of about 20 to 30 %, leaving a residue which is chemically identical with the original salt. The experimental results for the rate of decomposition of whole crystals, powder and pellets are shown to be well fitted by a kinetic equation which is in accord with a detailed model for the decomposing salt. It is possible to account in terms of this model (which involves the decomposition of intergranular material only) for the observed dependence of the activation energy on the extent of cold-working to which the solid is subjected.