Modified TNT

Modified TNT. After WWI, a considerable quantity of Trojan grenade powd that had been spoiled by moisture, was available for use. It consisted of nitrostarch, Na nitrate, Amm nitrate, and a small quantity of oils. In order to utilize the powd, an equal amt of TNT was added, and the resulting mixt designated modified TNT was found to be an efficient expl. 

A three-step nitration process of toluene is described. The advantages of the modified process are reduced waste, less hazardous operation, reduced oleum requirement, partial replacement of coned HN03 with dil HN03, and higher rate of toluene flow into the reactor (Ref 86) The continuous process of H.C. Prime (Ref 73) for preparing TNT was studied by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel with a starch binder and a fluorescent indicator. The nitration... 

A widely recognised approach uses the modified Kistiakowsky—Wilson rules to predict the chemical products from an explosion, and then the Berthelot approximation to evaluate the explosive output compared with a standard explosive, usually TNT. 

In 2001, the Fido system was modified to operate underwater and became known as the SeaDog. The U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research (ONR), under its Chemical Sensing in the Marine Environment (CSME) Program, funded the integration of the SeaDog with an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The integrated system was able to map a plume of trinitrotoluene (TNT) in open water in real time. This was the first demonstration of the mapping of an explosive plume underwater in real time [9, 10],... 

Fickett (Addnl Ref E) have re-examined it in the light of new experimental data on detonation pressure and on the variation of detonation velocity D with loading density P0 for several RDX/TNT mixtures. They proposed the following slightly modified version of KW equation of state ... 

N) C.L. Mader, "Detonation Properties of Condensed Explosives Using BeCker-Kistiakowsky-Wilson Equation of State , LASL Rept LA-2900(1963) O) M. Lutzky, "The Flow Field Behind a Spherical Detonation in TNT Using the Landau-Stanyukovich Equation of State for Detonation Products , USNavalOrdnanceLaboratory, White Oak, Md, NOLTR 64-40(1964) (The equation discussed in Rept is the one modified by Zel dovich Kompaneets and is referred to by Lutzky as "LSZK Equation of State ) Oi) M.L. Wilkins, Univ of Calif, LawrenceRadLab, Livermore, Calif, Rept UCRL-7797(1964) P) H. Hurwitz, "Calculation of the Detonation Parameters With... 

As acceptors used in underwater tests were 50/50-Pentolite, TNT, 60/40-Cyclotol, PBX 9404-03 and LX-04-1. The results gave thresholds for burning which are comparable in magnitude to Susan and Skid tests, but lower than those obtd by the modified gap test. This showed that burning can be produced at lower shock levels if the pressure were held longer and the wave front made flatter... 

Lutzky (Ref 14) determined detonation parameters for TNT using the Landau-Stanyukovich equation of state modified by... 

Type 98 Modified 7-cm (75-mm) HE Proj was filled with cast TNT and used in Type 41 Mountain Gun and Type 38 Field Gun Group (pp 325-26)... 

A quite different approach to the detonation product state has been to treat it as solidlike. Jones and Miller6 performed equilibrium calculations on TNT with this idea in mind. They used an equation in which the volume was a virial expansion in the pressure. Other solidlike equations are cited in Ref. 2, but these have mostly been used for computing the state parameters with an assumed product state. The modified Kistia-kowsky-Wilson equation of interest to us liere appears to be one of several possible compromises between the hard-sphere molecule approach and the solid state approach. 

Cyclotol 75% RDX + 25% TNT Basically modified Composition with a higher RDX content for better performance. Used as a high VOD castable main explosive and also considered as a substitute for PBX-9404... 

Straight and modified polystyrenes have little or no effect on explosives and propellants. However, modified polystyrenes show greater susceptibility than straight polystyrenes to attack by explosives and propellants that contain NG/TNT. 

CA 64, 17348(1966) [Nitrome than e-amine expl Preferably not more than 4—6% of an amine (such as diethylamine, aniline, tetra-ethylenepentamine or morpholine) is used, but up to 40% may be used with Nitromethane. A modified Trauzl Pb block expansion test and a modified Brintiell-type app were used to demonstrate the superiority of this expl over TNT]... 

Table 5.6 Decomposition products of TNT using the modified Kistiakowsky-Wilson rules...

Using these modified rules the decomposition products for TNT (C7H5N306) are given in Table 5.6. 

The equation for explosion of TNT using the modified K-W rules is shown in Reaction 5.10. 

HNS is often used in military explosive compositions as a crystal modifier for TNT. Around j-l% of HNS is added to molten TNT so that on cooling, small, randomly-orientated crystals are formed. These small crystals have a high tensile strength and prevent the TNT composition from cracking. 

Germany, The following modified amatols with low TNT content were used during WWI for cast-loading some ammo (Ref 4, p 173) ... 

This type of work continued and is reported on in Ref 50. A modified Compn B was developed which had a cast density of 1.64g/cc, is equivalent to Compn B in the sand test, is slightly inferior to Compn B in the shell fragmentation test, but is comparable with TNT in impact and rifle bullet sensitivity. This compn is composed of 60/32/8 RDX/TNT/N-octadecyl phthalimide. It was recommended that this compn be evaluated in components where Compn B is normally used... 

Because there were objections to the use of low melting paraffin in ammo to be Used in the Pacific Theater where relatively high ambient temps are encountered, work was directed in modifying the D-l Compn to utilize a high melting wax to replace the paraffin. The expl mixt utilizing the modified D-l Compn, designated as Compn D-2, was called HBX. The formulation of HBX is 38/17/40/5 TNT/A1/RDX/ D-2 Compn. This expl is basically Torpex 2 with 5% Compn D-2. The requirements for the D-2 sensitizer are as follows ... 

Continuous process of MNT DNT TNT manuf introduced during WWI at Oldbury, England. It was modified and im proved in 1932 at Waltham Abbey), 496 (Continuous method of Schmid for manuf of NG)... 

Curtisite. A Brit coal-mining expl formerly on the "Permitted List". It was made by Curtis Harvey and consisted of AN 88, TNT 8 MNN 4%. A modification of compn, called Super-Curtisite, enabled it to pass the Rotherham Test. The modified compn contd AN 38.5, KN03 29.5, TNT 10 Amm chloride 22%. The limit chge was l6oz power (by ballistic pendulum) was 2.71 vs 3-27 1 for Gelignite contg 60% NG... 

Ammasol. A permissible expl used prior to 1947 AN 54, TNT 12 salt (NaCl) 34%. It is considered in Ref 112, p 6 as a modified Ammonit. Another compn contd AN 59, TNT 9 salt 32%... 

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