Deformation mechanism of the explosive degradation of heavy metal azides under pulsed treatments

The experimental results on the kinetics of explosive degradation of heavy metal azides by the action of nanosecond laser and electron-beam pulses and by the impact of accelerated microparticles are reported. It was found that, basically, the kinetics of the processes was qualitatively and quantitatively similar under the action of all the above factors. A local lattice deformation was the overall result of initiation by all the above factors. A theoretical analysis of the dependence of the electronic structure and electron density of a crystal on the degree of lattice deformation demonstrated that the lattice deformation resulted in a redistribution of bonds between atoms within the anion and between atoms of neighboring anions. A possible structural mechanism for the initiation of the primary reaction is discussed.