The effect of gamma-irradiation on the thermal decomposition of anhydrous cadmium nitrate

The thermal decomposition of gamma-irradiated anhydrous cadmium nitrate was studied by dynamic thermogravimetry. The reaction order, activation energy, frequency factor and entropy of activation were calculated by the Coats-Redfern method and were compared with those of the unirradiated salt. Irradiation enhances the decomposition and the effect increases with the irradiation dose. The activation energy decreases on irradiation. The mechanism of the decomposition of unirradiated and irradiated anhydrous cadmium nitrate follows the Mampel equation: -ln(l-alpha) for g(alpha) and the rate-controlling process is random nucleation with the formation of a nucleus on every particle.