German RDX

Comparative brisance tests with 50/50 Hexo-nit and 50/50 Pentrinit by the iron plate test showed that Hexonit is not as effective as Pentrinit (Ref 1). It is also claimed that RDX in Hexonit does not form such a homogenous mass with NG and NC as does PETN in Pentrinit (Ref 2), and it tends to exude. NG was used hy the Germans for loading torpedo heads... 

Italian explosives, ammunition and weapons (small arms and artillery pieces) have always been considered of very good quality. With the exception of T4 (Cyclonite or RDX) and Tri-tolita (Cyclotol), which the Italians developed and used before both Great Britain and the USA, there are no high explosives of unusual interest or originality. However, there are several explosives similar to the German Ersatzsprengstoffe (Substitute Explosives), which were developed in Italy due to the shortage of aromatic compounds... 

Tritolital. Accdg to Ref 28, p 351 Ref 31, p 263, it is a castable explosive used during WWII by Italians and Germans for loading underwater weapons, such as torpedoes, depth charges sea mines. It consisted of TNT 60, RDX 20 ... 

This toxic explosive was used during WWII by the Germans as an extender for TNT and as a desensitizer for some expls, such as RDX. Its addition to some high melting HE s lowered their mp s, thus rendering them suitable for cast-loading [Fedoroff et al ... 

In addition to the explosives mentioned above, before and during WWII, the Germans developed and used several new explosives and explosive mixtures which. cannot be called substitutes (Ersatzsprengstoffe) because they were more powerful than the previously used military explosives, such as TNT and PA. These new powerful explosives included PETN and RDX, as well as various mixtures containing these substances... 

RDX was first prepared in 1899 by the German, Henning for medicinal use. Its value as an explosive was not recognized until 1920 by Herz. 

They were originally developed, before WWII, by the Germans and by the British. These mixtures are yel-brownish or yel-btff in color, and are castable explosives based on RDX TNT in various proportions. Some of them contain wax... 

France. The lab prepn and knowledge of the props of RDX were known as early as 193 Several refs to such studies appear in the French literature. The study of RDX in France was interrupted by the German occupation in 1940, but these studies were resumed after WWII. For example, studies of RDX its phlegmatized mixts were reported by Desseigne (Ref 108), LeRoux (Refs 109 119), Tabouis et al (Ref 118) and others... 

According to Vivas et al (Ref 64), stability tests by Taliani, Metz and German 135° heat tests all show that RDX is more stable than Tetryl, but less stable than TNT... 

In order to use RDX fcr cast loading of projectiles, it must be blended with a relatively low-melting substance, preferably an expl which functions as a liquid matrix at a suitable casting temp. If Cyclonite is blended with a weak-expl compd (such as mononitronaphalene) in which 20% of the RDX is replaced, its power is reduced considerably and approaches that of straight TNT. It is much better to use mixts of RDX TNT, in which 70% of RDX is blended with 30% of TNT as in some German expls or in British American Cyclotols. The following are examples of applications for RDX in expls used in various countries ... 

The gas-enhanced bombs described here are even more destructive. Terrorists used bombs of this type in their attacks on the U.S. embassy and the marine barracks in Beirut in 1983. Explosives experts initially attributed the marine bombing to about 12,000 pounds of TNT, judging from the tremendous damage caused by the explosion. Israeli intelligence experts now believe the bombs were composed of about 600 pounds of an RDX-based explosive and a propane booster. They also believe that die bombs were prepared by East German advisors working with Syrian terrorists because production of FAE is relatively specialized and not widely known. 

Although these studies provide critical basic information necessary for simulating RDX, more germane are the ab initio calculations that explore the decomposition pathways. Unfortunately, although several studies have been reported, no definitive conclusions about the lowest-energy pathway have emerged. The first quantum chemistry prediction for the... 

A.M. Pennie T.S. Sterling, CanJ-ChemEngrg 36, 82-84 (1958) US Dept of Army Reprint 1142 (1958) (Phlegmatization of fine RDX) 139) B. Zlotucha et al, Characteristics of Poly-styrene-bonded RDX (PB-RDX) , SEAL Tech Rept 2497 (1958) 140) H.W. Koch H.Freiwald, "On the Properties of Hexogen Suspensions in Molten TNT", Rapport No 6/58, Laboratoires de Rech-erches Techniques de Saint-Louis (in German), translation by US Joint Publication Research Service (PA Tech Note FRL-TN-57) 141) R.J. 

Chauyaku = RDX (Japan) 68 Cheddite = chlorate explosive (swiss) Chemecol blasting process 147 Chilesalpeter = sodium nitrate (german) 291 chlorate de barium 28 chlorate de potassium 262... 

Duxita = RDX phlegmatized with 3% castor oil (Italy) dwell time 115 Dyno Boost 115 Dynacord = detonating fuse (german) 115 Dyneschoc 116 Dynatronic 116 dynamic vivacity 24 Dynamit-Collodiumwolle = gelatinizing nitrocellulose for dynamites 224... 

E -i- E-process (RDX synthesis) 70 E - E-Wolle = ester soluble nitrocot-ton (german) 224... 

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