Sublimation of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB)

Sublimation has been investigated as a purification tool for TATB. The relatively high vapor pressure of this material at moderate (greater than or equal to 100/sup 0/C) temperatures led to the proposal of using this technique as a means of removig residual impurities and intercalated, undesired gases. The yields of sublimed material ranged from an upper limit of 95% to a lower level of approx. 33%. The yield of sublimed TATB and the rate of sublimation were found to be functions of time, temperature, purity of starting material, and surface area (of unsublimed TATB and of the cold finger). Physiocochemical analyses of sublimate and residue will be presented and their implications to the elucidation of low temperature thermal decomposition mechanisms will be discussed.