On the mechanism of the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

The experimental results confirming the proton-transfer mechanism of the ammonium perchlorate (AP) thermal decomposition over a wide temperature range are presented. The proton conductivity of AP was detected. It is shown by use of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer that the primary products of the thermal decomposition of AP are ammonia and perchloric acid. An endothermal stage, in a condensed phase, during the thermal decomposition of AP is discovered by a calorimetric investigation. The heat absorbed at this stage coincides with the NH3-HClO4 dissociation energy. The features of the catalytic effect of homogeneous and heterogeneous additives on AP thermal decomposition and on some kinetic regularities of chlorine dioxide formation at this decomposition are in good agreement with the proton-transfer mechanism of AP thermal decomposition.