Effect of diethylenetriamine on the structure of detonation waves in nitromethane

This paper presents the results of experimental studies of the reaction zone structure in steady-state detonation of nitromethane sensitized by diethylenetriamine (DETA). The concentration of DETA was varied within 0.0125–15%. It is shown that small additions of DETA lead to a qualitative change in the flow pattern in the reaction zone. After the shock, the mass flow rate continues to increase for about 10 ns, reaches a maximum, and only then decreases. The amplitude of the chemical spike decreases by an order of magnitude. These features are explained by the decomposition of nitromethane sensitized by DETA in front of the shock wave, which is due to a sharp increase in the initial reaction rate.