Nitro compounds as explosives

Among aliphatic nitro compounds nitromethane was only recently recognized as an explosive. Tetranitromethane is not explosive but can form an explosive when mixed with combustible substances. Tetranitromethane possesses here a chMacter 

Nitro derivatives of aromatic compounds as explosives are of greatest practical importance. 

For this reason, mononitro compounds will be described only from the viewpoint of their utilization as intermediates for the preparation of higher nitrated products. 

Explosive nitro compounds exhibit a high degree of chemical stability and undergo no changes during storage. They differ from other explosives by possessing a low sensitivity to impact and friction. 

Aromatic nitro compounds are obtained from the corresponding aromatic compounds by classic nitration methods using mixtures of nitric and sulphuric acids. The methods will be discussed in further chapters. 

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Advantage is taken of the considerable energies and rapid rates of reactions such as this in the commercial use of nitro compounds as explosives. With some nitro compounds, such as TNT, there is a further advantage of low shock sensitivity. 

NitrcKollodinium teirafluoroborate. transfer nitration of aleohols with 291 Nitro compounds as explosives (MHS) biological activity of 90 infra-red and Raman spectroscopy of 74... 

Nitro Compounds as Explosives.—Nitro compounds prepared from aromatic hydrocarbons and certain of their derivatives were very important explosives used in the recent war. The compounds differ markedly in the properties which are characteristic of explosives namely, (1) sensitiveness to shock, (2) explosive force, and (3) the velocity of the explosion through the substance. If (1) is very high the explosive can not be transported very safely (2) determines the amount of the explosive to be used if (3) is very high the pressure is developed to its maximum so suddenly that rupture of the gun in which it is used may take place. Substances which are very sensitive to shock are used as detonators or boosters a small amount of the material is exploded by the trigger and the explosive wave set up causes the explosion of the less sensitive material. Mercury fulminate, lead azide, Pb(Ns)2, and several nitro derivatives of aniline (see below) are used for this purpose. 

Introduction of SF5 Croups into Nitro Compounds As a part of continuing research for energetic materials that combine high performance with low vulnerability toward accidental detonation, the effect of introduction of the pentafluorosulfonyl (SF5) group on the properties of explosive nitro compounds... 

A-Nitro and acetyl-substituted 1,3,5,7-tetrazocanes are important compounds as explosives and propellants <1996CHEG-II(9)705>. In the syntheses of the nitro-substituted 1,3,5,7-tetrazocanes, their processing, and application, it is possible that they come into contact with ammonium nitrate, or they are directly mixed with this oxidant. Thermal reactivity of the nitro-substituted 1,3,5,7-tetrazocanes has been examined by means of nonisothermal differential thermal analysis <2005MI11>. It has been established that impurities of ammonium nitrate can destabilize some A-substituted 1,3,5,7-tetrazocanes and that this effect is due to acidolytic attack of nitric acid. 

NH3) are of great commercial importance practically all modem explosives contain high proportions of ammonium nitrate or organic nitro-compounds. Nitrates are also employed as fertilizers. 

Alcohols form esters from inorganic acids as shown above. Like all esterifications, these reactions are reversible that is, in the presence of water and the right conditions, they revert to the original alcohol and acid. Nitrate esters are mainly used as explosives, but some have found use as diesel fuel additives. Note the difference between a nitrate ester such as ethyl nitrate (C2H5ONO2) and an organic nitro compound such as nitroethane (C2H5NO2). 

The precautions with any particular explosive depends on the hazard. In the UK explosives are classified as 1 — Gunpowder 2 — Nitrate mixture 3 — Nitro compound 4 - Chlorate mixture 5 - Fulminate 6 - Ammunition and 7 - Fireworks. 

We now illustrate the opposite case where the intermediate is in fact a highly undesirable substance, as it presents a health, or even explosion, hazard. The hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds, such as the one shown in Fig. 2.6, is industrially important for the production of dyes, whiteners, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. The reaction occurs in the presence of a platinum catalyst and proceeds via intermediates, among which the hydroxylamine (-NHOH) species is particularly hazardous, as it is both carcinogenic and explosive. Unfortunately, standard platinum catalysts give rise to high levels of this undesired intermediate. 

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