Infrared Laser Multiphoton Decomposition of 1,3,5 Trinitrohexahydro-S-Triazine (RDX)

Powdered samples of 1,3,5-trinitrohexahydro-s-triazine (RDX), were exposed to nanosecond infrared laser pulses from a tuned CO2 TEA laser. The laser pulses induced multiphoton vibrational excitation in RDX which decomposed very rapidly to form gaseous products. These products were detected and characterized with mass spectrometry, UV- visible, and infrared spectroscopy. Among the detected products were HCN, CO, N2, NO, CH2O, CO2, N2O, and NO2.