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

No. 8 Test Cap

Prüfkapsel; detonateur d’epreuve

Defined by the Institute of Makers of Explosives (USA):

A No. 8 test blasting cap is one containing 2 grams of a mixture of 80% mercury fulminate and 20% potassium chlorate, or a cap of equivalent strength.

In comparison: the European test cap: 0.6 g PETN; the commercial No. 8 cap: 0.75 Tetryl (German).

Test Galleries

Versuchsstrecken; Sprengstoffprüfstrecken; galeries d’essai

W Permissibles.

Tetramethylammonium Nitrate

Tetramethylammoniumnitrat; nitrate de tetram´ ethylammonium´

(CH3)4N NO3

colorless crystalsempirical formula: C4H12N2O3 molecular weight: 136.2

energy of formation: –562.3 kcal/kg = –2352.7 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: –599.3 kcal/kg = –2507.3 kJ/kg oxygen balance: –129.2%

nitrogen content: 20.57%

During the Second World War, this compound was utilized as a fuel component in fusible ammonium nitrate mixtures. It can be homogeneously incorporated into the melt.

Tetramethylolcyclopentanone Tetranitrate

Nitropentanon; tetranitrate´ de tetram´ ethylolcyclopentanone;´ Fivonite

colorless crystals

empirical formula: C9H12N4O13 molecular weight: 384.2

energy of formation: –398.2 kcal/kg = –1666 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: – 420.6 kcal/kg = –1760 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 45.8%

nitrogen content: 14.59%

density: 1.59 g/cm3

melting point: 74 °C = 165 °F lead block test: 387 cm3/10 g detonation velocity, confined:

7040 m/s = 23100 ft/s at r = 1.55 g/cm3

Condensation of formaldehyde with cyclopentanone yields a compound with four –CH2OH groups, which can be nitrated to the tetranitrate. Analogous derivatives of hexanone, hexanol, and pentanol can be prepared in the same manner, but in the case of pentanol and hexanone the fifth hydroxyl group also becomes esterified:

tetramethylolcyclohexanol pentanitrate “Sixolite”; tetramethylolcyclohexanone tetranitrate “Sixonite”; tetramethylolcyclopentanol pentanitrate “Fivolite”.

Table 28. Thermochemical data

2,3,4,6-Tetranitroaniline

Tetranitroanilin; tetranitroaniline;´ TNA

pale yellow crystals empirical formula: C6H3N5O8 molecular weight: 273.1

energy of formation: –25.5 kcal/kg = –107 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: – 42.8 kcal/kg = –179 kJ/kg oxygen balance: –32.2%

nitrogen content: 25.65%

volume of explosion gases: 813 l/kg heat of explosion

(H2O liq.): 1046 kcal/kg = 4378 kJ/kg (H2O gas): 1023 kcal/kg = 4280 kJ/kg

specific energy: 123 mt/kg = 1204 kJ/kg density: 1.867 g/cm3

melting point: 216 °C = 421 °F (decomposition) deflagration point: 220–230 °C = 428– 446 °F impact sensitivity: 0.6 kp m = 6 N m

Tetranitroaniline is soluble in water, hot glacial acetic acid, and hot acetone, and is sparingly soluble in alcohol, benzene, ligroin and chloroform.

It is prepared by nitration of 3-nitroaniline or aniline with a H2SO4 HNO3 mixture; the yield is moderate.

Tetranitrocarbazole

tetranitrocarbazol;´ TNC

yellow crystals

gross formula: C12H5N5O8 molecular weight: 347.2

energy of formation: +28.3 kcal/kg = +118.5 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: +13.0 kcal/kg = +54.4 kJ/kg oxygen balance: –85.2%

nitrogen content: 20.17% melting point: 296 °C = 565 °F

heat of explosion (H2O liq.): 821 kcal/kg = 3433 kJ/kg

Tetranitrocarbazole is insoluble in water, ether, alcohol, and carbon tetrachloride, and is readily soluble in benzene. It is not hygroscopic.

It is prepared by the nitration of carbazole; preparation begins with sulfuric acid treatment until the compound becomes fully soluble in water, after which the sulfonic acid derivative is directly converted to the nitro compound by adding mixed acid without previous isolation.

Tetranitromethane

Tetranitromethan; tetranitrom´ ethane;´ TNM

colorless liquid with a pungent smell empirical formula: CN4O8

molecular weight: 196.0

yellow crystals

empirical formula: C10H4N4O8 molecular weight: 308.2

energy of formation: +23.7 kcal/kg = +99.2 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: +8.4 kcal/kg = +35.3 kJ/kg oxygen balance: –72.7%

nitrogen balance: 18.18% melting point:

softening of the isomer mixture begins at 190 °C = 374 °F

Tetranitronaphthalene is a mixture of isomers, which is obtained by continued nitration of dinitronaphthalenes.

The tetrasubstituted compound can only be attained with difficulty. The crude product is impure and has an irregular appearance. It can be purified with glacial acetic acid.

Tetracene

tetrazolyl guanyltetrazene hydrate; Tetrazen; tetraz´ ene*)´

feathery, colorless to pale yellow crystals empirical formula: C2H8N10O

molecular weight: 188.2

energy of formation: +270.2 kcal/kg = +1130 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: +240.2 kcal/kg = +1005 kJ/kg oxygen balance: –59.5%

nitrogen content: 74.43% density: 1.7 g/cm3

lead block test: 155 cm3/10 g deflagration point: ca. 140 °C = 294 °F impact sensitivity: 0.1 kp m = 1 N m

Tetrazene is classified as an initiating explosive, but its own initiation effect is weak.

It is practically insoluble in water, alcohol, ether, benzene, and carbon tetrachloride. It is prepared by the reaction between aminoguanidine salts and sodium nitrite.

*The structural formula found in the earlier literature: HN-C(=NH)-NH-NH-N=N- C(=NH)-NH-NH-NO was corrected in 1954 by Patinkin (Chem. Zentr. 1955, p. 8377).

Tetrazene is an effective primer which decomposes without leaving any residue behind. It is introduced as an additive to erosion-free primers based on lead trinitroresorcinate in order to enhance the response. Its sensitivity to impact and to friction are about equal to those of mercury fulminate.

Specifications

Tetryl

trinitro-2,4,6-phenylmethylnitramine; Tetryl; tetryl;´ Tetranitromethylanilin; pyronite; tetralita

pale yellow crystals empirical formula: C7H5N5O8 molecular weight: 287.1

energy of formation: +35.3 kcal/kg = +147.6 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: +16.7 kcal/kg

= +69.7 kJ/kg

oxygen balance: – 47.4% nitrogen content: 24.39%

volume of explosion gases: 861 l/kg heat of explosion

(H2O gas): 996 kcal/kg = 4166 kJ/kg }calculated*) (H2O liq.): {1021 kcal/kg = 4271 kJ/kg

1140 kcal/kg = 4773 kJ/kg experimental**) specific energy: 123 mt/kg = 1208 kJ/kg

density: 1.73 g/cm3

melting point: 129.5 °C = 265 °F

heat of fusion: 19.1 kcal/kg = 80 kJ/kg lead block test: 410 cm3/10 g

* computed by the “ICT-Thermodynamic-Code”.

**value quoted from Brigitta M. Dobratz, Properties of Chemical Explosives and Explosive Simulants, University of California, Livermore.

detonation velocity, confined:

7570 m/s = 24800 ft/s at r = 1.71 g/cm3 deflagration point: 185 °C = 365 °F impact sensitivity: 0.3 kp m = 3 N m friction sensitivity: 36 kp = 353 N

pistil load reaction

critical diameter of steel sleeve test: 6 mm

Tetryl is poisonous; it is practically insoluble in water, sparingly soluble in alcohol, ether, and benzene, and is more readily soluble in acetone.

It is obtained by dissolving monoand dimethylaniline in sulfuric acid and pouring the solution into nitric acid, with cooling.

Tetryl is a highly brisant, very powerful explosive, with a satisfactory initiating power which is used in the manufacture of primary and secondary charges for blasting caps. Owing to its relatively high melting point, it is employed pressed rather than cast.

Specifications

Tetrytol

A pourable mixture of 70% Tetryl and 30% TNT.

Thermite

An incendiary composition consisting of 2.75 parts of black iron oxide (ferrosoferric oxide) and 1.0 part of granular aluminum.

Thermodynamic Calculation of Decomposition Reactions

Important characteristics of explosives and propellants may be calculated from the chemical formula and the W Energy of Formation (enthalpy in the case of rocket propellants) of the explosive propellant components under consideration. The chemical formula of mixtures

may be obtained by the percentual addition of the atomic numbers of the components given in Table 29 below, for example:

composition:

8% nitroglycerine

30% nitroglycol

1.5% nitrocellulose

53.5% ammonium nitrate

2% DNT

5% wood dust;

The number of atoms of C, H, O and N per kilogram are calculated from Table 31.

As a result, the formula for one kilogram of the explosive can be written:

C8.19H40.48O37.39N18.73.

The same calculation has to be made for gun and rocket propellants as the first step.

In decomposition processes (detonation in the case of high explosives or burning processes in the case of gunpowders and rocket propellants), the kilogram CaHbOcNd is converted into one kilogram

n1 CO2 + n2 H2O + n3 N2 + n4 CO + n5 H2 + n6 NO.

In the case of industrial explosive with a positive W Oxygen Balance, the occurrence of free oxygen O2, and in the case of explosive with a very negative oxygen balance, e.g., TNT, the occurrence of elementary

carbon C have to be considered. If alkali metal salts such as NaNo3 are included, the carbonates of these are taken as reaction products, e.g., Na2CO3. The alkaline earth components, e.g., CaNO3 are assumed to form the oxides, e.g., CaO; chlorine will be converted into HCl; sulfur into SO2.

Exact calculations on burning processes in rocket motors must include dissociation phenomena; this is done on computer facilities (at leading national institutes*), and the relevant industrial laboratories in this field are nowadays equipped with computers and programs. The following explanations are based on simplifying assumptions.

1. Conventional Performance Data of Industrial Explosives.

The explosion of an industrial explosive is considered as an isochoric process, i.e. theoretically it is assumed that the explosion occurs confined in undestroyable adiabatic environment. Most formulations have a positive oxygen balance; conventionally it is assumed, that only CO2, H2O, N2 and surplus O2 are formed. The reaction equation of the example above is then

C8.19H40.48O37.39N18.73 =

8.19 CO2 + 20.24 H2O + 9.37 N2 + 0.39 O2

The real composition of the explosion gases is slightly different; CO and traces of NO are also formed.

1.1 Heat of explosion.

Table 31 also lists the enthalpies and energies of formation of the explosives and their components.

In the case of isochoric explosion, the value for the energy of formation referring to constant volume has to be employed. The heat of explosion is the difference of the energies between formation of the explosive components and the reaction products, given in

*The data for the heat of explosion, the volume of explosion gases and specific energy given in this book for the individual explosives have been calculated with the aid of the “ICT-Code” in the Fraunhofer Institut für CHEMISCHE TECHNOLOGIE, D-76318 Pfinztal, including consideration of the dissociation phenomena. Therefore, the values have been changed in comparison to the figures listed in the first edition of this book (computed without dissociation).

Table 32. Energy of formation of the example composition:

Energy of formation of the reaction products:

The heat of explosion is obtained by the difference

–767.91 –(–1934.1) = +1934.1 –767.91 = 1167 say 1167 kcal/kg or 4886 kJ/kg (H2O gas).

1.2 Volume of explosion gases.

The number of mole of the gaseous reaction products are multiplied by 22.4 l, the volume of 1 mole ideal gas at 0 °C (32 °F) and 1 atmosphere. The number of moles in of the example composition:

CO2: 8.19

H2O: 20.24

N2: 9.37

O2: 0.39

sum: 38.19 V22.4 = 855 l/kg Volume of Explosion Gases.

*Conventionally, the computed figure for the heat of explosion for industrial explosives is given based on H2O vapor as the reaction product. The values for the individual explosive chemicals (now calculated by the “ICT-Code” are based on H2O liquid. They are directly comparable with results obtained by calorimetric measurements.