Hygroscopicity military explosives

When heated in vacuum EDDN vaporizes and condenses without noticeable decomposition. When heated at 10 millimeters of pressure in an atmosphere of nitrogen or air, autocatalytic decomposition occurs between 230°C and 360°C. EDDN is hygroscopic to the extent of 1.24 percent at 90 percent relative humidity and 25°C. In the 120°C vacuum stability test, five milliliters of gas are evolved. Because of poor solubility, hygroscopicity, and acidity characteristics, EDDN is not very satisfactory for use as a military explosive and is an inferior substitute for TNT. 

Explosive B T No 21 (Victorite). A compn ptepd by mixing flour (18.8), sulfur (1.9) KCIO3 (75.1%) in a soln of resin (4.2%) in an org solv, and then removing the solv by evaporation. This process is designed to coat the expl particles with resin, thereby waterproofing them and reducing their, sensitivity. The product may also be dyed different colors. The compn was unsatisfactory for military application because of its sen si tivity, hygroscopicity low brisance Ref J.D. Hopper, PATR 481(1934)... 

Miles, JCS 1931 2532-42 (Formation and characterization of crysts of LA and some other initiating expls) 5)K.S.Warren, PATR 1152 (1942), "Study of the Action of Lead Azide on Copper 6)J.Fleischer J.B. Burtle, USP 2,421,778 (1947) "Initiating Explosives 7)Wm.H.Rinkenbach A.J. Clear, PATR Rev 1(1950), "Standard Laboratory Procedures for Sensitivity, Brisance and Stability of Explosives 8)U.S.Military Specification MIL-L-3055, Amend 1(1952) (Requirements and tests for dextrinated lead azide) 9)J-Bernstein, GLR 51-HI-2332, Pic Arsn (1952) "Hygroscopicity of Dextrinated Lead Azide 10)J.W.Lavitt, PATR 1957 (1953), "An Improved Microscopic Method for the Determination of the Crystal Size Distribution of 2-Micron RDX" 11)F.P. Bowden K.Singh, Nature 172, 378(1953) (Size effects in the initiation and growth of explosives) 12)J.W.C.Taylor, A.T.Thomas... 

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