Kinetics and mechanism of the thermal decomposition of dimethylnitramine at low temperatures

Dimethylnitramine (DMNA) was pyrolyzed between 466 and 524 K at about 475 Torr pure DMNA pressure in static cells. A radical mechanism was proposed and computer-modeled to account for the disappearance of DMNA and the production of (CH3)2NNO and CH3NO2. The rate constant for DMNA decomposition into (CH3)2N and NO2, based on these low-temperature results and other high-temperature shock tube data, covering 460–960 K, can be given by k1 = 1015.9±0.2 exp(−22,000±200/T) sec−1. This result leads to values for the N-N bond energy of 43.3±0.5 kcal/mole and the heat of formation of the (CH3)2N radical, 35±2 kcal/mole at 298 K. Kinetic modeling of the CH3NO2 and (CH3)2NNO production profiles has been carried out.