Methyl nitrate, combustion

Methyl nitrate is prepared by the effect of nitric acid on methanol in the presence of sulphuric acid. Operating conditions are critical, given the exothermicity of the reaction and the compound thermal instability (see previous table). Moreover, methyl nitrate is very sensitive to impact. It combusts spontaneously at 250-316°C when it is in the vapour state and even when the vapour is diluted by an inert gas. The flame temperature reaches 2600°C. 

Monergols, i.e. monophase systems composed of at least two components, one of which is an oxidant, the other a fuel, e.g. a solution of methyl nitrate (oxidant) with methyl alcohol (combustible). 

LEAD DINITRATE (10099-74-8) Pb(N03)2 Noncombustible solid. A strong oxidizer accelerates burning of combustible materials. Violent reaction, or may form explosive materials, with reducing agents, including hydrides, nitrides, phosphoms, stannous chloride, and sulfides alkyl esters (forms explosive alkyl nitrates) combustible materials, potassium hexanitrocobalite(III) (C. I. pigment yellow), cyclopentadienyl sodium, red hot carbon, lead(II) phosphinate, phosphoms, tin(II) chloride. Incompatible with aluminum, ammonia, ammonium thiocyanate (mixture forms the shock- and friction sensitive explosive guanidine nitrate) citric acid, hydrozoic acid, metal phosphinates, methyl isocyanoacetate, sodium peroxyborate, potassium acetate. 

Methyl and ethyl nitrates are promoters of the combustion of hydrocarbons. Nitrobenzene and aromatic nitrated explosives are mostly insensitive to impact. They become sensitive when potassium or Na-K alloy is present. 4-Nitrotoluene with sodium in diethyl ether medium forms a black residue that combusts spontaneously in air. 

Difficulty is of course also met with in compounds which are hygroscopic or which have high vapour pressures, such as the aliphatic amines. For example, for gaseous methylamine, Bichowsky and Rossini quote values of 258 1 and 261 4 kcai for - AHr, and the liighcr value is supported by heat of combustion of methylamine nitrate, which leads to 262 0 1 5 kcai for methyl-amine. ... 

Can be prepd from phenol or its salts by the use of the foUowing ethylating agents ethyl chloride, ethyl bromide, ethyl p-toluenesulfate, di-. methyl sulfate or triethyl phosphate. Combustible. On nitration it yields products which are suitable for use in expl compns... 

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