Effect of malonyl malonanilide dimers on the thermal stability of nitrocellulose

Three malonanilide dimers (MA2-MA4) were prepared by the reaction of ethyl malonate with malonanilide derivatives (M2-M4). These dimers were investigated as new stabilizers for nitrocellulose. The evaluation process has been performed through Bergman-Junk (BJ) test, thermal analysis measurements (TGA and DSC) and kinetic parameters calculations (E-a). The comparative study between mass spectra and thermal analysis of the new dimers helped in resolving the thermal decomposition mechanisms for the new dimers. It was found that the new dimers especially (MA2 and MA4) showed better stabilizing effect for the nitrocellulose than the centralite I (C I) which is the common stabilizer. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.