The thermal decomposition of 2-(4-methoxycarbonylphenyl)-5-nitryl-6-hydroxybenzoxazole(MNB) in N2 atmosphere was studied by thermogravimetry(TG) and differential thermogravimetry(DTG).It is a sequential process.The molecular bond orders were calculated by GAMESS method and the IR spectra of MNB and its intermediates in thermal decomposition at various temperatures were determined.The mechanism of the thermal decomposition has been discussed,the C-N bond breakdown and the nitro group elimination occurred in the initial step of the decomposition.The thermal decomposition kinetic parameters such as apparent activation energy E=115.5kJ·mol-1,pre-exponential factor A = 1.698×1010 min-1 and apparent reaction order n = 0 were obtained according to test data.
