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Investigation of Size-Dependent Sublimation Kinetics of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) Micro-Islands Using In Situ
Yong Joon Lee1, Brandon L Weeks2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. yong-joon.lee@ttu.edu.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 22, 2019
Summary
The activation energy for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) sublimation increases with island size. Local surface environment, not just diffusion, dictates TNT island coarsening and sublimation rates.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
Background:
- Understanding the sublimation kinetics of energetic materials like 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is crucial for safety and performance.
- Previous models often simplify sublimation behavior, potentially overlooking critical environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the activation energy for TNT island sublimation using kinetic thermal analysis.
- To investigate the influence of island diameter and local surface environment on TNT sublimation and coarsening.
Main Methods:
- In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed for real-time imaging.
- Kinetic thermal analysis was performed isothermally across a temperature range of 15-25 °C.
- TNT islands of varying diameters (600-1600 nm) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The activation energy for TNT sublimation was found to increase with increasing island diameter.
- Sublimation rates and coarsening behavior are significantly influenced by the local surface environment.
- A simple diffusion model is insufficient to explain the observed sublimation and coarsening phenomena in real-world TNT systems.
Conclusions:
- The size-dependent activation energy highlights complex surface interactions during TNT sublimation.
- Local environmental factors play a dominant role, necessitating more sophisticated models beyond simple diffusion.
- This research provides critical insights into the physical processes governing TNT stability and behavior.
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