Abstract
GARNER and Gomm1 and also Muraour2 have distinguished between the energies of activation (critical increments) which characterise (a) the thermal decomposition and (b) the detonation of an explosive. In the case of lead azide, the value1 for the detonation, 150,000 cal./mol. (one extreme measurement, 9.7 sec., is omitted advisedly and with Prof. Garner's concurrence), is about three times that for the thermal decomposition, 47,000 cal./mol.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Garner and Gomm, J. Chem. Soc., 2123; 1931.
Muraour, Chem. et Ind., 30, 39; 1933.
Miles, J. Chem. Soc., 2532; 1931.
Unpublished.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SUTTON, T. Mechanism of Detonation in Lead Azide Crystals. Nature 133, 463 (1934). https://doi.org/10.1038/133463b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/133463b0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.