Evaluation of Kinetic Parameters for the Thermal Decomposition of g-Irradiated Anhydrous Calcium Nitrate

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of g-irradiated anhydrous calcium nitrate was studied by dynamic thermogravimetry. The decomposition proceeds in a single stage. The reaction order, activation energy, frequency factor and entropy of activation were calculated using the Coats-Redfern, Freeman-Carroll and Horowitz-Metzger methods and were compared with those of unirradiated anhydrous calcium nitrate. Irradiation enhances the decomposition and the effect increases with the irradiation dose. The activation energy decreases on irradiation. The mechanism of the decomposition of unirradiated and irradiated anhydrous calcium nitrate follows the Mampel model equation, -ln (l-a) for g (a) and the rate controlling process is random nucleation with the formation of a nucleus on every particle.