Thermal decomposition of irradiated strontium nitrate

The influence of γ-irradiation on the kinetics of thermal decomposition of strontium nitrate has been studied over the temperature range 580-625deg. Decomposition occurs in the molten state in four stages, viz., (i) initial gas evolution, (ii) induction, (iii) acceleratory and (iv) decay. The kinetics of stages (i) and (ii) could not be studied with any degree of certainty. The acceleratory and decay stages analyse according to the Prout-Tompkins relationship. Activation energies of these two stages calculated from the Prout-Tompkins constants are 102.9 and 26.3 kcal mole-1, respectively. Irradiation increases initial gas evolution and shortens the induction period. It also enhances the rate constants in the acceleratory and decay stages. The activation energy for the acceleratory stage is diminished while that for the decay stage is increased. (author)