Explosive D = ammonium picrate

VI. Uses. During the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early part of the present century, PA was widely used as the main expl charge of projectiles and bombs. This is no longer true, Indeed PA per se is hardly used as an expl. Its current limited expl-related use is primarily in the preparation of Explosive D (Ammonium Picrate) and Lead Picrate. It also finds some use as an intermediate in the manuf of dyes. There is some patent literature on the use of PA as a catalyst for polymerizations. For example, PA is claimed as catalyst in polybutadiene polymerizations (Ref 40), and for the prepn of an isobutylene-5-methyl-1,3,6 hepta-trieie copolymer (Ref 38)... 

The hot gases from the percussion primer permeate thru the baffle and initiate the BkPdr delay pellet, which burns under the reproducible pressure conditions which are obtained within the delay element housing, with a delay time of 0.035 sec. When the BkPdr element has burned thru, a spit of flame impinges on a detonator loaded with LA a true detonation develops and progresses successively thru the Tetryl-loaded lead-out, the Tetryl-loaded booster lead-in, the Tetryl-loaded booster and Explosive D (Ammonium Picrate) -loaded main (or bursting) charge of the projectile. 

With the discovery in the 1880 s that PA (previously known for many years as an external medicine) is a very powerful and brisant expl, combined with the introduction by Turpin of new HE shells(which were/essentially the same as shells currently in use), the need of BkPdr as a bursting chge was completely eliminated. In later years, other HE s were invented, such as Explosive D (Ammonium Picrate), TNT, Tetryl, PETN,... 

The theory and practice of impact sensitivity testing are discussed in detail in Vol 7,135-R ff (see also Vol 4, D392). Several types of equipment have been used on an empirical basis, and the results have often been difficult to reproduce. The qualitative conclusion can be drawn, however, that TNT is less sensitive to impact than all other common expls except Explosive D (ammonium picrate), and TATB. A similar conclusion can be drawn from data from other types of tests, such as the Susan Test, and from a comparison of critical initiation energies (Ref 141)... 

EXPLOSIVE D, AMMONIUM PICRATE OR. DUNNITE. See 2,4,6 TRINITROPHENOL, AMMONIUM SALT under PHENOL AND DERIVATIVES... 

Picric acid was made for the French government. It was also used to produce Explosive D (ammonium picrate) and chlorpicrin, a chemical warfare agent. Picric acid crystallizes into yellowish grains that are extremely shock sensitive. A small bottle was found at a military laboratory in DC. Chemists decided that it was too sensitive to move and brought in a robot to drill a hole through the bottle so that it could be neutralized. Another bottle was found at the University of the District of Columbia and was taken out to an athletic field for detonation. 

SYNS AMMONIUM CARBAZOATE AMMONIUM PICRATE, dry or wetted with <10% water, by weight (UN 0004) (DOT) AMMONIUM PICRATE, wetted with not <10% water, by weight (UN 1310) (DOT) AMMONIUM PICRONITRATE EXPLOSIVE D OBELINE PICRATE PHENOL, 2,4,6-TRINITRO-, AMMONIUM SALT (9CI) PICRATOL PICRIC ACID, AMMONIUM SALT RCRA WASTE NUMBER P009 2,4,6-TRINITROPHENOL AMMONIUM SALT... 

Ammonium perchlorate composite propellant Ammonium picrate (picrate of ammonia. Explosive D) Ammonium salt lattice with isomorphously substituted inorganic salts... 

Ammonium Picrate (Explosive D, Dunnite, Ammonium trinitrophenolate). C6H2(N02)3.0NH4 ... 

The requirements of the US Armed Forces are described in Military Specification MIL A-166C (6 January 1975) entitled, Ammonium Picrate (Explosive D) It covers one grade of material, representing two classes with respect to granulation. Class 1 material (coarse) is intended for use in the press-loading of shells, while Class 2 (fine) is used for the manuf of Picratol and other compns. The requirements are as follows ... 

Trinitrophenol (4), commonly known as picric acid (VOD 7350 m/s, d = 1.71 g/cm ), was once used as a military explosive although its highly acidic nature enables it to readily corrode metals. This kind of reaction has led to many fatal accidents, a consequence of some metal picrates being very sensitive primary explosives. The lead salt of picric acid is a dangerous explosive and should be avoided at all cost. In contrast, the ammonium (Explosive D, VOD 7050 m/s, d = 1.60 g/cm ) and guanidine salts of picric acid are unusually insensitive to impact and have been used in armour piercing munitions. 

Ammonium Picrate (AmmPicr), Dunnite or Explosive D, was standardized in the US as a bursting charge for AP (Armor-Piercing) shells (Ref 64, p 2-3). Its prepn and properties are described in Ref 70, pp 136—39, where it is stated that AmmPicr was first prepd in 1841 by Marchand and in 1869 used by Brugbre in admixture with K nitrate as a proplnt. Used as an HE after 1900 (See also 1841)... 

Pikurinsan Ammonia (Ammonium Picrate) is described as Explosive D in AMCP 706-177 (-1971), p 136, (02N)3C6H2.0NH4 mw 246.24,... 

Ammonium picrate [also known as Explosive D Structure (2.9)] was used as a military explosive to fill armor-piercing shells because of its relative insensitiveness to impact It was also used in admixture with KN03 as a substitute for black powder or gunpowder. Ammonium picrate in conjunction with TNT [Picratol-52/48 (Ammonium picrate/TNT)] was also formulated and used. 

During World War II a mixture of TNT (48%) with ammonium picrate (52%) known as Picratol was employed to replace pure ammonium picrate (Explosive D) in the United States. This was a semi-fusible mixture cast into shells at a temperature above the melting point of TNT. After solidification the density of the mixture was 1.62. In accordance with the opinion prevailing in that country that ammonium picrate is an explosive with a low sensitiveness to impact, it was used for filling armour-piercing shells. 

Ammonium Picrate Explosive "D" or Dun-nite. See 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol, Ammonium Salt and Phenol andDerivatives... 

Picrato Amonico. Ammonium Picrate, Explosive D or Dunnite. It is described in Vol 8 of Encycl,. P276-R to P279-L... 

Schwartz, Dermatitis from Explosives , JAmer-MedAssoc 125,186 (1944) b) F.W. Sunder-man et al, Studies of the Effects of Ammonium Picrate on Man and Certain Experimental Animals , JIndHygieneToxicol 27,241 (1945) c) A.H. Harris et al, Hematuria Due to Picric Acid Poisoning at a Naval Anchorage in Japan , AmJPublicHealth 36, 727 (1946) d) P. 

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