Decomposition and Ignition of the High-Nitrogen Compound Triaminoguanidinium Azotetrazolate (TAGzT)

The high‐nitrogen compound triaminoguanidinium azotetrazolate (TAGzT) belongs to a class of C, H and N compounds that are free of both oxygen and metal, but retain energetic material properties as a result of their high heat of formation. Its decomposition thus lacks secondary oxidation reactions of carbon and hydrogen. The fact that TAGzT is over 80% nitrogen makes it potentially useful as a gas generant and energetic material with a low flame temperature to increase the impulse in gun or rocket propellants. The burning rate, laser ignition and flash pyrolysis (T‐jump/FTIR spectroscopy) characteristics were determined. It was found that TAGzT exhibits one of the fastest low‐pressure burning rates yet measured for an organic compound. Both the decomposition and ignition behavior of TAGzT are dominated by condensed phase reactions. T‐Jump/FTIR spectroscopy indicates that condensed phase reactions release about 65% of the energy, which helps to explain the high burning rate at low pressure.