Qualitative Stability

Chemical instability is a key feature for all energetic materials and directly influences their safety and functional features. Even the most stable materials exhibit a measurable rate of decomposition and their properties change during ageing. The stability of individual energetic materials depends on their chemical structure and purity. The stability of mixed materials is investigated for their compatibility.

A rate of decomposition significantly accelerates with increased temperature and this behaviour is precisely determined by qualitative methods based on the detection of evolved decomposition products usually by means of indicator paper.