Thermal decomposition of 3,3′-bis-azidomethyl-oxetane

Measurements of gaseous species and temperature profiles were performed to study the thermal decomposition of 3,3'-bis-azidomethyl-oxetane (BAMO). Experiments were conducted at 1 atm of argon with heat fluxes of 100 and 400 W/cm(2), delivered by a CO2 laser. Gaseous samples were extracted through the use of a quartz microprobe and analyzed by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Temperature profiles were measured using the microthermocouple technique to investigate gas-phase reaction zones identified by the species measurements. Flame structure and surface behavior were observed using a high-magnification video system. Major species evolved from the surface were identified as N-2, HCN, H2CO, H2O, NH3, CO, and CH4. Minor species include NO, H2CNH (m/z = 29), CH3CN(41), CH3CHNH(43), C2H3CHO(56), CO(CH)(2)NH(69), and C2H2. From the species measurements, at both experimental conditions, BAMO was found to undergo simultaneous decomposition of its backbone structure, indicated by the release of high concentrations of H2CO, H2O, and CO, and of side chains, by the large amounts of N-2, HCN, and some larger molecules. No gas-phase reaction was identified, because most of the major species measured exhibited relatively constant concentrations in the gas-phase. The lack of a gas-phase reaction was also evident from the gas-phase temperature profile that showed a constant value of approximately 1050 K.