Explosives ammonium permanganate

A mixture of 0.5% of potassium permanganate with an ammonium nitrate explosive caused an explosion 7 h later. This was owing to formation and exothermic decomposition of ammonium permanganate, leading to ignition. 

Frank Explosives. Ammonium Nitrate explosives, patented in 1895 in Germany, contd as an additive K permanganate and/or chromate... 

Ammonium permanganate, NH4Mn04, has distinct marked explosive properties, but it is unstable. Decomposition and alteration of the appearance of the compound can be discerned within 1-2 days, and within a few weeks its explosive properties are lost. This is probably due to the decomposition of ammonium permanganate, in accordance with the reaction ... 

The temperature of initiation is reported by different authors to be 110-130°C. Bircumshaw and F. M. Taylor [49] have examined the thermal decomposition of ammonium permanganate between 96 and 117°C. The activation energy of this decomposition was estimated as 27.9 kcal/mole. Within the temperature range from 70 to 80°C the energy of activation was 26.0 kcal/mole. An explosive decomposition brought about by an initiator procedes according to the reaction ... 

Ammonium permanganate is of no practical importance as an explosive. However, its spontaneous formation should be avoided, otherwise an explosion such as one that occurred in a German plant (Roburit Fabrik) at Witten, in 1906, may take place. 0.5% of potassium permanganate was added to an ammonium nitrate explosive, Roburit. Seven hours later self-ignition of the product occUfred, followed by an explosion. 

Benzyl(triethyl)ammonium permanganate, 9. 43 10, 28-29 11, 44. Caution The reagent when dry can ignite explosively, even a 20°. ... 

AMMONIUM PERMANGANATE (13446-10-1) Forms explosive mixture with air (flash point 30°F/— 1°C). A strong oxidizer. Shock-sensitive may explode from impact and/or at elevated temperatures (above 135°F/57°C). Violent reaction with reducing agents, combustible materials, other oxidizers. Keep away from sunlight, acetic acid, acetic anhydride. 

Powdered antimony reacts explosively when it is carefully mixed with alkaline nitrates alkaline antimonates are formed. The same happens with molten ammonium nitrate, which combusts violently when it is ground up with potassium permanganate (to be compared with arsenic on p.210). 

In a review of the course and mechanism of the catalytic decomposition of ammonium perchlorate, the considerable effects of metal oxides in reducing the explosion temperature of the salt are described [1], Solymosi s previous work had shown reductions from 440° to about 270° by dichromium trioxide, to 260° by 10 mol% of cadmium oxide and to 200°C by 0.2% of zinc oxide. The effect of various concentrations of copper chromite , copper oxide, iron oxide and potassium permanganate on the catalysed combustion of the propellant salt was studied [2], Similar studies on the effects of compounds of 11 metals and potassium dichromate in particular, have been reported [3], Presence of calcium carbonate or calcium oxide has a stabilising effect on the salt, either alone or in admixture with polystyrene [4],... 

Hydroxylamine is a powerful reducant, particularly when anhydrous, and if exposed to air on a fibrous extended surface (filter paper) it rapidly heats by aerobic oxidation. It explodes in contact with air above 70°C [1]. Barium peroxide will ignite aqueous hydroxylamine, while the solid ignites in dry contact with barium oxide, barium peroxide, lead dioxide and potassium permanganate, but with chlorates, bromates and perchlorates only when moistened with sulfuric acid. Contact of the anhydrous base with potassium dichromate or sodium dichromate is violently explosive, but less so with ammonium dichromate or chromium trioxide. Ignition occurs in gaseous chlorine, and vigorous oxidation occurs with hypochlorites. 

An account of a serious warehouse explosion (15 dead, 141 injured). The two principal detonations were mostly due to ammonium nitrate, of which some hundred tonnes had been present, but the initiating fire was first observed in ammonium persulfate. This had been promiscuously stored alongside potassium permanganate, matches, potassium nitrate and sodium sulphide (or possibly sulphite), inter alia. None of these would improve the safety of ammonium persulfate. It was shown that the persulphate gives an immediate exothermic reaction with the sulphide. This was ascribed as the ultimate initiation. It was concluded that oxidants and... 

Several explosive salts including the acetylide, azide, borate, bromate, chlorate, chromate, iodate (and ammonium iodate double salt), nitrite, perchlorate (and ammonium perchlorate double salt), periodate, permanganate, picrate and trinitrobenzoate were prepared. The 3 latter salts and the acetylide, azide and bromate are impact-sensitive detonators [1], It appears probable that many of the explosively unstable compounds [2], formed in various ways from interaction of mercury or its compounds with ammonia or its salts, may have the common polymeric structure now recognised for Millon s base [3], This is a silica-like network of N+ and Hg in 4- and 2-coordination, respectively, with OH and water in the interstitial spaces. Individually indexed compounds are Poly(dimercuryimmonium acetylide)... 

EXPLOSIVELY UNSTABLE compounds [4, 6-9]. It has been reported that solid benzyltriethylammonium permanganate is considerably less stable than the tetra-butylammonium salt both compounds are sensitive to impact, but the benzyl-ammonium salt may explode violently at room temperature [4] and it is more readily handled by absorption on alumina [4]. 

Halsey and Savage Explosives. Several smokeless powders, containing Ammonium Picrate, were patented in the US in 1896. They were prepd by adding finely pulverized Ammonium Picrate to an aqueous solution of potassium dichromate in such a manner as to form a plastic mass and then slowly adding a coned aqueous solution of potassium permanganate. 

Ammonium Salts Which are Explosive, examined by H.Kast and described in SS 21, 205-9(1926) and SS 22, 6-9, 30-4, 56-61, 77-80, 99-102 131-5(1925) included azide, bichromate, chlorate, nitrate, nitrite, perchlorate, permanganate and trichromate... 

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