Thermal decomposition kinetics of 1-methyl-3,4,5-trinitropyrazole

Thermal decomposition of 1-methyl-3,4,5-trinitropyrazole (MTNP) has been investigated using TG-DTA technique under nitrogen atmosphere. The compound showed good thermal stability with exothermic decomposition peak at 248 °C on DTA. Kinetic parameters were calculated from the DTA peak temperatures at different heating rates. The activation energy required for the thermal decomposition of MTNP according to Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Friedman methods have been found to be 67.48 and 56.80 kcal mol−1 respectively. Due to the promising properties such as lower melting point, higher heat of formation, higher activation energy, higher density and better performance, MTNP may find use as melt cast and insensitive explosive applications in near future.

► 1-Methyl-3,4,5-trinitropyrazole (MTNP), a next generation melt cast explosive was synthesized in two step reaction.
► The compound showed good thermal stability with an exothermic decomposition peak at 248 °C on DTA.
► The activation energy required for the thermal decomposition according to Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Friedman methods are 67.48 and 56.80 kcal mol−1 respectively.