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

nitrogen content: 16.67 %

volume of explosion gases: 907 l/kg heat of explosion

(H2O liq.): 637 kcal/kg = 2666 kJ/kg (H2O gas): 633 kcal/kg = 2646 kJ/kg specific energy: 79.7 mt/kg = 781 kJ/kg

density: 1.5 g/cm3

solidification point: 89.6 °C = 193.3 °F vapor pressure:

lead block test: 242 cm3/10 g detonation velocity, confined:

6100 m/s = 20 000 ft/s at r = 1.47 g/cm3 deflagration point:

evaporation at 291 °C = 556 °F; no deflagration

impact sensitivity: 4 kp m = 39 N m friction sensitivity:

up to 36 kp = 353 N pistil load no reaction critical

diameter of steel sleeve test: 1 mm

Dinitrobenzene is sparingly soluble in water. It is prepared by direct nitration of benzene or nitrobenzene. It is an insensitive explosive. For purposes of official transport regulations, the sensitivity and the reactivity of dinitrobenzene are just on the limit between high-explosive and the non-dangerous zone.

Dinitrobenzene is toxic and produces cyanosis.

The maximum permissible concentration of this compound in the air at the workplace is 1 mg/m3. The compound is of no interest as an explosive, since toluene – from which W TNT is produced – is available in any desired amount.

Methylamine Nitrate

Methylaminnitrat; nitrate de m´ethylamine; MAN

CH3-NH2 ·HNO3

colorless crystals

empirical formula: CH6N2O3 molecular weight: 94.1

energy of formation: – 862 kcal/kg = – 3604 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: – 896 kcal/kg = – 3748 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 34 %

nitrogen content: 29.77 %

volume of explosion gases: 1191 l/kg heat of explosion

(H2O liq.): 821 kcal/kg = 3437 kJ/kg (H2O gas): 645 kcal/kg = 2698 kJ/kg specific energy: 95.3 mt/kg = 934 kJ/kg

density: 1.422 g/cm3

melting point: 111 °C = 232 °F lead block test: 325 cm3/10 g

Methylamine nitrate is considerably more hygroscopic than ammonium nitrate. Its sensitivity to impact is very low. It can be employed as a flux component in castable ammonium nitrate mixtures, but requires incorporation of brisant components. Methylamine nitrate is also employed as a component in W Slurries.

Methyl Nitrate

Methylnitrat; nitrate de m´ethyle

CH3-O-NO2

colorless volatile liquid empirical formula: CH3NO3 molecular weight: 77.0

energy of formation: – 456.7 kcal/kg = –1911 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation:

– 483.6 kcal/kg = – 2023.6 kJ/kg oxygen balance: –10.4 %

nitrogen content: 18.19 %

volume of explosion gases: 873 l/kg heat of explosion

(H2O liq.): 1613 kcal/kg = 6748 kJ/kg (H2O gas): 1446 kcal/kg = 6051 kJ/kg specific energy: 123 mt/kg = 1210 kJ/kg

density: 1.217 g/cm3

boiling point: 65 °C = 149 °F lead block test: 610 cm3 detonation velocity, confined:

6300 m/s = 20 700 ft/s at r = 1.217 g/cm3 deflagration: evaporation, no deflagration impact sensitivity: 0.02 kp m = 0.2 N m friction sensitivity:

up to 36 kp = 353 pistil load no reaction critical diameter of steel sleeve test: 18 mm

Methyl nitrate is a highly volatile liquid, and its brisance is about equal to that of nitroglycerine. Its vapors are both flammable and explosive and produce headaches. Methyl nitrate dissolves nitrocellulose, yielding a gel, from which it rapidly evaporates.

It can be prepared by introducing methyl alcohol into a nitrating mixture at a low temperature or by distilling methanol with mediumconcentrated nitric acid.

Methylphenylurethane

Methylphenylurethan; m´ethylph´enylurethane

colorless liquid

empirical formula: C10H13O2N molecular weight: 179.2 boiling point: 250 °C = 482 °F refractive index n20D : 1.51558

energy of formation: – 538.5 kcal/kg = 2253 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation:

– 564.7 kcal/kg = – 2363 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 218.7 % nitrogen content: 7.82 %

Methyl Violet Test

In this test, which was developed in the USA about 50 years ago from another test known as the German test (testing for visible nitrous gases at 135 °C / 275 °F), visual inspection of the nitrous gases is replaced by testing with a strip of paper, impregnated with methyl violet. This test is performed at 134.5 °C (274.1 °F) for nitrocellulose and single-base powders and at 120 °C (248 °F) for multi-base propellants. At the end of the test the violet dye changes color to bluegreen and then to salmon-pink. For singlebase powder, this color change should not take place after less than 30 minutes and for a multibase powder after less than 60 minutes. Only highly unstable powders can be detected by this test, therefore the latter is now rarely used.

Metriol Trinitrate

methyltrimethylolmethane trinitrate; Metrioltrinitrat; Nitropentaglycerin; trinitrate de trim´ethylolm´ethylm´ethane

pale-colored, oily substance empirical formula: C5H9N3O9 molecular weight: 255.1

energy of formation: – 373.8 kcal/kg = –1564.1 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation:

– 398.2 kcal/kg = –1666.1 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 34.5 % nitrogen content: 16.47 %

volume of explosion gases: 966 l/kg heat of explosion

(H2O liq.): 1182 kcal/kg = 4945 kJ/kg (H2O gas): 1087 kcal/kg = 4549 kJ/kg specific energy: 124 mt/kg = 1215 kJ/kg

density: 1.460 g/cm3

solidification point: –15 °C = +5 °F lead block test: 400 cm3/10 g deflagration point: 182 °C = 360 °F impact sensitivity: 0.02 kp m = 0.2 N m

The oil is practically insoluble in water and is very stable chemically. When mixed with nitrocellulose, it can be gelatinized on rollers only to a moderate extent and only at an elevated temperature. The volatility of the trinitrate is low.

Miniaturized Detonating Cord*)

Mild detonating fuse; nicht-sprengkräftige detonierende Zündschnur; cordeau d´etonant miniatur´e

Detonating cord with a core load of 5 or less grains of explosive per foot (≤ 0.1 g/m).

Minol

A pourable mixture of TNT, ammonium nitrate, and aluminum powder (40 : 40 : 20).

Misfire*)

Versager; rat´e

An explosive material charge that fails to detonate after an attempt at initiation.

Missile

Raketenflugkörper; roquette

The integral functional unit consisting of initiator and igniter devices, rocket engine, guiding equipment, and useful payload. W Rocket Motor.

Missiles are, in principle, guided rocket projectiles.

Mock Explosives**)

Sprengstoff-Attrappen; factices

Mocks are nonexplosive simulants for high explosives. They duplicate the properties for test purposes without hazard. The required properties to copy need different mocks, e.g., for physical properties, for density, or for thermal behavior.

* Text quoted from glossary.

**For more details see Dobratz, B. M., Properties of Chemical Explosives and Explosive Simulants, UCRL-51 319, Rev. 1, University of California.

Mud Cap

Auflegerladung; p´etardage

Mud caps are explosive charges which have a strong destructive effect even when not placed in a confining borehole. They are used for the demolition of boulders and concrete structures. (Synonymous with

Adobe Charge and Bulldoze).

A highly brisant explosive is required for this purpose. Mud caps are usually covered with mud in order to enhance their brisance. It is often desirable to use charges of definite shape (W Shaped Charges; W Cutting Charges).

Multicord 40 and Multicord 100

Trade names of W Detonating Cords containing 40 g and 100 g PETN/ m, distributed in Germany and exported by WASAGCHEMIE. It is covered with red colored plastic. It serves for the initiation of ANFO blasting agents and for Smooth Blasting.

Munroe Effect

The effect of shaped charges is known in the USA as the Munroe effect after Munroe, who described it in 1888. The terms “cavity effect” and “lined cavity effect” are also employed (W Shaped Charges).

Muzzle Flash

Mündungsfeuer; lueur a` 1 a bouche

Muzzle flash is the appearance of a flame at the muzzle of a barrel or a tube during the shot. The flash is a secondary effect which takes place when the still flammable explosion gases (CO, H2) become mixed with air on emerging from the barrel.

The reasons for the appearance of the flash are not yet fully clear; it is also unclear why the flash can be supressed by introducing certain additives to the powder (probably catalytic termination of chain reactions). It is certain that muzzle flash is promoted by the high temperature of the combustion gases, the high gas pressure and the high velocity of the gas emerging from the muzzle.

In a given weapon, fast-burning powders have a lower tendency to flash than slow-burning powders. Weapons with a high ballistic performance (high projectile velocity and high gas pressure) give a larger flash, which is more difficult to suppress than that given by firearms with a lower performance.