Cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine

T. Khayamian, M. Tabrizchi and M.T. Jafari, Analysis of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, pentaerythritol tetranitrate and cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine using negative corona discharge ion mobility spectrometry, Talanta 59(2) (2003) 327—333. 

RDX (cyclonite, hexogen, T4, cyclo-1,3,5,-trimethylene-2,4,6,-trinitramine hexahydro-1,3,5-trmitro-S-triazme)... 

Solvent Dipolemoment (gasphase) inD/8/ Melting point in °C /8/ Solubility of Cyclo-trimethylene-trinitramine in g/100 g Solubility of Pentaerythrit-tetranitrate ing/lOOg (23°c) Solubility of 3-Nitro-l, 2,4-triazole in g/lOOg <23°c)... 

Diagram 1 shows the recovery of cyclo-trimethylene-trinitramine as a function of the modifier concentration. Without co-solvents, the recovery of cyclo-trimethylene-trinitramine is about 0.8 percent, thus indicating complete insolubility in supercritical carbon dioxide. Small amounts of cyclo-trimethylene-trinitramine recovered may be due to material driven out with a particle diameter smaller than the diameter of the flits at the end of the extraction cell. 

The influence of different modifiers on extraction efficiency with a concentration of 4 mol% is pointed out in diagram 2. With pure supercritical carbon dioxide,only pentaerythrit-tetranitrate is recovered. Recovery of the other samples is below 1 %, indicating no mutual solubilities with supercritical carbon dioxide. Using modifiers, recoveries of nitro-triazole and cyclo-trimethylene-trinitramine can be greatly enhanced. 

For example, a mixture of 4 mol% 2-propanol with carbon dioxide extracts up to 35 percent of nitro-triazole and a mixture of 4 mol% acetonitrile extracts up to 95 percent of cyclo-trimethylene-trinitramine. 

Results indicate the good potential for pentaerythrit-tetranitrate in establishing the RESS process for the production of fine particles. The GAS process could be more suited for particle formation of nitroguanidine, cyclo-trimethylene-trinitramine and nitro-triazole. If additional small amounts of modifiers are acceptable, then the flexible handling of both RESS - and GAS-process can be proposed for cyclo-trimethylene-trinitramine and nitro-triazole. 

Influence of modifier-concentration on recovery of cyclo-trimethylene-trinitramine... 

Bentley RE et al., Laboratory Evaluation of the Toxicity of Cyclo trimethylene Trinitramine (RDX) to Aquatic Organisms, US Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick, MD, USA, 1977. 

The most important military secondary explosives are either pure substances, e.g., 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, cyclo-trimethylene trinitramine, cyclo-tetramethylene tetranitramine, pentaerythritol tetranitrate or mixtures of these compounds. They may also contain phleg-matisers (wax, oil). 

In acid solution, nitramines are reduced by 6 electrons, giving amines. Only one wave or peak can be distinguished. The reaction mechanism for the reduction of heterocyclic nitramines, like cyclo-trimethylene trinitramine (hexogen) and cyclo-tetramethylene tetramine (octogen) is complicated and occurs in several steps. In alkaline solutions, e.g. cyclo-trimethylene trinitramine is reduced in the first step via a two electron reaction. 

TRIMETHYLENE TRINITRAMINE (CYCLONUE) (CYCLO-TRIMETHYLENETRINITRAMINE) (HEXOGEN)... 

Secondary explosives, which include TNT, cyclo-l,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX or cyclonite), High Melting Explosives (HMX), and tetryl, are much more prevalent at military sites than are primary explosives. Since they are formulated to detonate only under specific circumstances, secondary explosives often are used as main charge or boostering explosives. 

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