Stability Analysis of n-Butyl-nitratoethylnitramine (Bu-NENA)

This article describes the thermal decomposition of n-Butyl-nitratoethylnitramine (Bu-NENA) which is a relatively new, not very widely used energetic plasticizer having attractive features. The decomposition reaction is a hydrolysis which leads to the formation of n-Butyl-ethanolnitramine (Bu-ENA) and nitric acid. stability of Bu-NENA can be measured by the Bu-ENA formation rate and by microcalorimetry. The stability of high quality material is good enough that a stabilizer is not necessarily needed. As the main reaction is forced by hydrolysis it is recommended that Bu-NENA is stored in dry conditions. Surprisingly DSC does not differentiate very well between stable and unstable samples. The main difference is found in the peak areas, not in the onset or peak maximum temperatures. decomposition product Bu-ENA is still an energetic material with an exothermic decomposition behaviour.