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An experimental programme is described, in which a number of thermo‐analytical techniques, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG and DTG) are applied to investigate the combustion of black powder. The primary aim has been to investigate, and determine qualitatively and quantitatively, the nature of the solid products of combustion. Additionally, standard analytical techniques were applied, to a chemical analysis of the solid products, resulting from the electric arcignition of a sample of black‐powder, under ambient, open air conditions. The solid products formed 33% by weight of the unburned black powder, consisting of K2SO4 (15%), K2CO3 (11.5%) and small amounts of KNO3 and KNO2. The DSC, TG and DTG analyses suggest a mechanism for the combustion, based on phase changes and transition stages of sulfur and KNO3, and their interaction with charcoal.

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Thermal decomposition of pure HMX shows DSC endothermic peaks at 210°C from β to γ phase transformation and at 285°C from the HMX melting followed by an instantaneous exothermic decomposition leading to a strong peak at 290°C and a very strong DTG peak at 325°C with a mass loss of 95%. However, the GS‐2 mixture shows two DSC exothermic peaks at 225°C and 270°C assigned to nitroguanidine etc. and HMX decomposition. Addition of NH4ClO4 to HMX causes the decomposition to take place before melting and decomposition peak is lowered to 230°C. However in the case of GS‐2, a strong effect was observed and the amount of the mixture was to be decreased to obtain a reasonable DSC curve. This shows that the addition of NH4CIO4 to HMX increases the decomposition of HMX, however this effect is more pronounced in GS‐2 mixture. Even the minimum concentration of NH4CIO4 tested (10%) shows strong effect. The addition of NH4NO3 to HMX and GS‐2 shows DSC exothermic decomposition peaks at 272°C and 245°C, showing a contribution from NH4NO3 decomposes near to the decomposition of HMX, it does not show a strong effect on the decomposition of HMX/GS‐2 as compared to NH4ClO4. Addition of KClO4, NaClO4 and KNO3 don't show any effect in these thermoanalytical studies.

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