Meyer R., Koehler J., Homburg A. Explosives. Wiley-VCH, 2002 / Explosives 5th ed by Koehler, Meyer, and Homburg (2002)

nitrogen content: 18.42 % density: 1.65 g/cm3

melting point: 234 °C = 453 °F lead block test: 320 cm3/10 g detonation velocity, confined:

7000 m/s = 23 000 ft/s at r = 1.61 g/cm3 deflagration point: 305 – 320 °C = 580 – 610 °F impact sensitivity: 0.5 kp m = 6 N m

This explosive is not toxic, and its technological blasting performance resembles that of hexanitrodiphenylamine. It is sparingly soluble in alcohol and ether, but is readily soluble in glacial acetic acid and acetone.

It is prepared by reacting trinitrochlorobenzene with sodium thiosulfate in alkaline solution. It is relatively heat-insensitive.

2,4,6,2',4',6'-Hexanitrodiphenylsulfone

Hexanitrosulfobenzid; hexanitrodiphenylsulfone

pale yellow crystals

empirical formula: C12H4N6O14S molecular weight: 488.2 oxygen balance: – 45.8 % nitrogen content: 17.22 % melting point: 307 °C = 585 °F

Hexanitrodiphenylsulfone is soluble in acetone, but only sparingly soluble in benzene and toluene. Its stability is satisfactory. It is prepared by oxidation of hexanitrodiphenylsulfide.

Hexanitroethane

Hexanitroäthan; hexanitro´ethane; HNE

colorless powder empirical formula: C2N6O12 molecular weight: 300.1

energy of formation: +101.8 kcal/kg = +425.9 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: +63.3 kcal/kg = +264.9 kJ/kg

oxygen balance: +42.7 % nitrogen content: 28.01 %

volume of explosion gases: 734 l/kg

heat of explosion: 689 kcal/kg = 2884 kJ/kg specific energy: 80.5 mt/kg = 789 kJ/kg density: 1.85 g/cm3

melting point: 147 °C = 297 °F vapor pressure:

transformation point: 17 °C = 63 °F lead block test: 245 cm3/10 g detonation velocity, confined:

4950 m/s = 16 240 ft/s at r = 0.91 g/cm3 deflagration point: 175 °C = 347 °F

friction sensitivity: at 24 kp = 240 N pistil load reaction

Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane

Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitan; HNIW; CL20 2,4,6,8,10,12-(hexanitro-hexaaza)-tetracyclododecane

empirical formula: C6H6N12O12 molecular weight: 438.19

energy of formation: +240.3 kcal/kg = +1005.3 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: +220.0 kcal/kg = +920.5 kJ/kg oxygen balance: –10.95 %

nitrogen content: 38.3 %

yellow crystals

empirical formula: C14H6N6O12 molecular weight: 450.1

energy of formation: +57.3 kcal/kg = +239.8 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: +41.5 kcal/kg = +173.8 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 67.6 %

nitrogen content: 18.67 %

volume of explosion gases: 766 l/kg heat of explosion

(H2O liq.): 977 kcal/kg = 4088 kJ/kg (H2O gas): 958 kcal/kg = 4008 kJ/kg

density: 1.74 g/cm3

melting point: 318 °C = 604 °F (decomposition) lead block test: 301 cm3/10 g

impact sensitivity: 0.5 kp m = 5 N m friction sensitivity:

over 24 kp = 240 N pistil load crackling

Hexanitrostilbene is manufactured by BOFORS AB according to FP 2007049 (Swedish priority) as an additive to cast TNT, to improve the fine crystalline structure.

Hexogen

W Cyclonite

HMX

Homocyclonite, the U.S. name for W Octogen.

Hollow Charge

W Shaped Charge.

Hot Spots

This term denotes the increase of the detonation sensibility of explosives by finely dispersed air bubbles. The loss in sensitivity to detonation of gelatinous nitroglycerine explosives by long storage has been known since the time of Alfred Nobel; it is due to the loss or coagulation of the air bubbles that may have been left in the explosive by the manufacturing process. This effect can be explained by the adiabatic compression and heating of the air inclusions as the detona-

tion wave is passing (W Detonation, wave theory) and is termed “hot spots”. This effect was used to make the recently developed cap sensitive W Emulsion Slurries. Conservation and independence from pressure of the air inclusions can be achieved by so-called W Microballoons.

Hot Storage Tests

Warmlagerteste; epreuves´ de chaleur

These tests are applied in to accelerate the decomposition of an explosive material, which is usually very slow at normal temperatures, able to evaluate the stability and the expected service life of the material from the identity and the amount of the decomposition products. Various procedures, applicable at different temperatures, may be employed for this purpose.

1.Methods in which the escaping nitrous gases can be recognized visually or by noting the color change of a strip of dyed filter paper. The former methods include the qualitative tests at 132, 100, 75, and 65.5 °C (270, 212, 167, and 150 °F). These tests include the U.S. supervision test, the methyl violet test, the Abel test, and the Vieille test.

2.Methods involving quantitative determination of the gases evolved. Here we distinguish between tests for the determination of acidic products (nitrous gases) only, such as the Bergmann-Junk test and methods which determine all the decomposition products, including manometric methods and weight loss methods.

3.Methods which give information on the extent of decomposition of the explosive material (and thus also on its stability), based on the identity and the amount of the decomposition products of the stabilizer formed during the storage. These include polarographic, thin-layer chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods.

4.Methods providing information on the stability of the explosive based on the heat of decomposition evolved during storage (silvered vessel test).

5.Methods in which stability can be estimated from the physical degradation of a nitrocellulose gel (viscometric measurements).

The tests actually employed vary with the kind of explosive tested (explosives, single-base, double-base or triple-base powders, or solid propellants) and the temporal and thermal exposure to be expected (railway transportation or many years’ storage under varying climatic conditions). In the case of propellants about to be transported by train, only short-time testing is required. However, to obtain an estimate of the expected service life is required, the so-called long-time tests must

be performed at 75 °C (167 °F) and below. The duration of such a storage is up to 24 months, depending on the propellant type. Shorttime tests – the Bergmann-Junk test, the Dutch test, the methyl violet test, the Vieille test and, very rarely, the Abel test – are mostly employed in routine control of propellants of known composition, i.e., propellants whose expected service life may be assumed to be known. In selecting the test to be applied, the composition of the propellant and the kind and amounts of the resulting decomposition products must also be considered.

Contrary to the common propellants, which contain nitrates, the so-called composite propellants cannot be tested in the conventional manner owing to the relatively high chemical stability of the incorporated oxidants, e.g., ammonium perchlorate. In such cases the stability criterion of the propellants is the condition of the binder and its chemical and physical change.

HU-Zünder

HU-detonators have a high safety against static electricity, stray currents and energy from lightning discharge. They are safe against 4 A and 1100 mJ/ohm. All-fire current is 25 A, all-fire energy 2500 mJ/ ohm. They are manufactured by DYNAMIT NOBEL, Troisdorf, Germany, as instantaneous detonators and with 20 ms and 30 ms short period delay, 18 delays each, and 24 delays of 250 ms long period delay.

HU-Zündmaschinen: the corresponding blasting machines are produced by WASAGCHEMIE Sythen, Haltern, Germany.

Hybrids

lithergoles

Hybrids is the name given in rocket technology to systems in which a solid fuel in the form of a case-bonded charge with a central perforation is reacted with a liquid oxidant. Hybrids with solid oxidant and liquid fuel also exist. Hybrids can be thrust-controlled during combustion and can even be re-ignited if hypergolic components are incorporated in the formulation of the fuel charge.

Hydrazine

colorless liquid empirical formula: H4N2 molecular weight: 32.05

energy of formation: +433.1 kcal/kg = +1812 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: +377.5 kcal/kg = +1580 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 99.9 %

nitrogen content: 87.41 % density: 1.004 g/cm3

Hydrazine and alkylhydrazines are important propellants in rocket engines, especially for flight control rockets which are actuated only for short periods of time during space travel. In the presence of special catalysts, hydrazine can be made to decompose within milliseconds;

W also Dimethylhydrazine.

Hydrazine Nitrate

Hydrazinnitrat; nitrate d’hydrazine

colorless crystals empirical formula: H5N3O3 molecular weight: 95.1

energy of formation: – 586.4 kcal/kg = – 2453 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: – 620.7 kcal/kg = – 2597 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 8.6 %

nitrogen content: 44.20 %

volume of explosion gases: 1001 l/kg heat of explosion

(H2O liq.): 1154 kcal/kg = 4827 kJ/kg (H2O gas): 893 kcal/kg = 3735 kJ/kg specific energy: 108 mt/kg = 1059 kJ/kg

density: 1.64 g/cm3 melting point:

stable modification: 70.7 °C = 159.3 °F unstable modification: 62.1 °C = 143.8 °F

lead block test: 408 cm3/10 g detonation velocity, confined:

8690 m/s 28 500 ft/s at r = 1.60 g/cm3 decomposition temperature: 229 °C = 444 °F