Probability of generation of Frenkel defects in the decomposition of silver azide

A mechanism of the deactivation of electronically excited nitrogen molecules is examined and the rate constant for the formation of a pair of Frenkel defects (∼108s−1) is evaluated. The probability of generation of Frenkel defects in the act of branching during the solid-phase decomposition of silver azide was estimated to be 0.15. A kinetic analysis of the model of the explosive decomposition of silver azide in the presence of generation of Frenkel defects in the act of branching is performed. The critical parameter that determines the changeover from the slow decomposition of the explosive is the total concentration of cation vacancies in different charge states. It is concluded that the processes underlying the model can lead to both the initiation of the sample at a steady exposure and the spontaneous explosion of silver azide crystals.