Effect of neutron radiation on the vaporization of ammonium perchlorate

The effect of neutron radiation on the kinetics of vaporization of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was studied by isothermal thermogravimetry in order to gain insight into the influence of ionizing radiation on composite-propellant combustion. The kinetic runs were carried out near 570 K after it was discovered that the irradiated AP deflagrated at 590 K. At 50 K both low-temperature decomposition and vaporization of AP could be distinguished, and only weight loss corresponding to the vaporization of AP was used to determine the kinetics of vaporization. The literature indicates that vaporization is the only condensed phase reaction deemed important in the AP combustion. Experimental results indicate that the rate of vaporization of the irradiated AP is the same as the rate of vaporization of the unirradiated sample. In particular, the vaporization rate of AP is unaffected by a neutron fluence of 400 trillion neutrons per sq cm, although the low-temperature decomposition is altered by the same fluence.