Effect of Heating Rate on Melting Point of HMX, RDX, TNT and PETN

Abstract

Melting point of HMX, RDX, TNT and PETN are measured for judging crystal purity. The heating rate when doing this has a significant effect on the melting point reading. This work gives an insight on how heating rate affects the melting point reading for these high explosives using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). With increase in heating rates (from 1 to 20°C min-1) the different behaviours of the DSC curves for HMX, RDX, TNT and PETN are analysed. It is also observed from this study that heating rate causes a shift in the temperatures for onset and the peak for HMX, RDX, TNT and PETN. This study reflects that in some cases the decomposition of the explosives is influencing the melting graphs. Hence a conclusion has been drawn on the adequate heating rate that should be chosen for determining the melting point of these high explosives.