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The thermal decomposition of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) has been studied below its m.p. 141 °C. Both sublimation and decomposition are found to occur concurrently. Decomposition begins at ca. 75 °C and pressure–time curves show an initial rapid acceleration in decomposition. An activation energy of 192 ± 5 kJ mol–1 is obtained between 75 and 130 °C. It is suggested that decomposition takes pace in the vapour phase. Mass spectra of the decomposition products show that the distribution is temperature dependent.
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Ng et al. (1976) studied this question.
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