Thermal decomposition and kinetics of 2,4-dinitroimidazole: An insensitive high explosive

•Pure 2,4-dinitroimidazole was prepared by re-crystallization from hot methanol.•A detailed thermal analysis of 2,4-DNI by DSC, TGA, GC–MS and ignition temperature.•Activation energy was calculated for thermal decomposition of 2,4-DNI•Effect of polymeric binder on thermal decomposition of 2,4-DNI were also studied.•Decomposition mechanisms of 2,4-DNI based on EI mass spectra were also described.

2,4-Dinitroimidazole (2,4-DNI) is a novel energetic material with much less sensitive and potential for use as a propellant/insensitive munition (IM) formulations. 2,4-DNI possess high thermal stability and less sensitivity as compared to RDX and HMX which are high explosives extensively used at present. This paper reports a detailed thermal study of 2,4-DNI using various instrumental techniques. The activation energy (E = 205 ± 15 kJ/mol) was calculated from thermal decomposition of 2,4-DNI using DSC at different heating rate. The ignition temperature of pure 2,4-DNI was measured and showed at 285 °C. The TGA experiments demonstrate that 2,4-DNI decomposes in three steps with 92% total weight lose. Moreover, the effect of thermal energy on decomposition of 2,4-DNI in presence of polymeric binders like GAP and HTPB were investigated. Further, decomposition mechanisms of 2,4-DNI based on Electron Impact mass spectra analysis were also reported along with its explosive properties.