Nitrocellulose commercial explosives

Both 1,3-DNB and 1,3,5-TNB have been used for their explosive properties (HSDB 1994). 1,3-DNB has been suggested as a possible substitute for the explosive TNT (HSDB 1994). 1,3-DNB has been used as a camphor substitute in nitrocellulose, a compound used in explosive and propellants (HSDB 1994 Sax and Lewis 1987). 1,3-DNB was manufactured during both world wars as a component in the explosive roburite (ERA 1976). 1,3,5-TNB has been classified as a high explosive and has been used in military and commercial explosive compositions (Merck 1989 Sax and Lewis 1987). A more powerful explosive than TNT, 1,3,5-TNB is less sensitive than TNT to impact (Merck 1989). 1,3,5-TNB has also been used as an explosive for oil wells and mining operations (OHM/TADS 1991). 

Hemp Nitrate (Nitrohemp) (In French Nitro-chanvre). Nitrohemp resembles cotton nitrocellulose or nitrojute in its properties. It may be prepared by nitrating hemp with mixed nitric-sulfuric acid. Trench (Ref 2) proposed using it as1 a basic ingredient in commercial explosives. Other components were collodion cotton, resin, ozokerite, glycerin etc Ref Daniel (1902), 773... 

Nitroglycerine is a very powerful secondary explosive with a high brisance, i.e. shattering effect, and it is one of the most important and frequently-used components for gelatinous commercial explosives. Nitroglycerine also provides a source of high energy in propellant compositions, and in combination with nitrocellulose and stabilizers it is the principal component of explosive powders and solid rocket propellants. 

Nitrocellulose can be quite hazardous if left to dry out completely therefore, it is usually stored and transported in 30% water or ethanol. Nitrocellulose is often dissolved in solvents to form a gel. For example, commercial explosives used for blasting purposes contain nitrocellulose dissolved in nitroglycerine, and some gun propellant compositions contain nitrocellulose dissolved in a mixture of acetone and water. 

Aromatic nitro compounds are generally stable but are frequently reactive, especially if they contain groups other than nitro groups in the meta position with respect to one another. As a class they constitute the most important of the military high explosives. They are also used as components of smokeless powder, in compound detonators, and in primer compositions. Liquid nitro compounds, and the mixtures which are produced as by-products from the manufacture of pure nitro compounds for military purposes, are used in non-freezing dynamite and other commercial explosives. The polynitro compounds are solvents for nitrocellulose. 

Dynamite was the first trade name introduced for a commercial explosive by Alfred Nobel it was nitroglycerine absorbed in kieselguhr (Guhr dynamite). Bonding of nitroglycerine by gelatinization with nitrocellulose was discovered by Nobel at a later date. 

Nitrocellulose, which is the most important component of single-base and double-base powders and multibase rocket propellants. It is also used to gelatinize commercial explosives. Outside the explosives industry, it is also used in the manufacture of lacquers and varnishes ... 

Of the multisectored core companies listed in Table 1.1, all except Allied Chemical were American first movers in products based on new chemical technologies. Du Pont, Dow, Monsanto, and American Cyanamid established their initial learning bases between 1896 and 1907. Du Pont was the first mover in nitrocellulose-based explosives, Dow in electrically produced inorganic chemicals, and Monsanto in the synthesis of foods and flavors. The several companies that in 1917 made up Union Carbide had also pioneered in a range of electrically based inorganic products. On the other hand, only one of the enterprises that merged into Allied commercialized a new technology. 

In a classic paper, Miron, Watson and Hay ° presented experimental evidence that large amounts of the ammonium salts remain in the explosive residue left from exploded ammonium salt-explosive mixtures used as commercial explosives in a 3.7 meter diameter steel sphere with the inside surface metallized with aluminum. Up to 50% of the ammonium nitrate was recovered from the explosion residues of granular, water-gel, and gelatinous explosives while no oil was recovered. Large percentages of sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, calcium carbonate and even nitrocellulose were recovered from some of the commercial explosives. Up to 96% of the aluminum was recovered in the residue of an aluminum containing water-gel explosive. 

The first high explosive discovered was probably nitrocellulose, in the period 1833 to 1846, but its development was long delayed by difficulties in obtaining a stable product. The two major discoveries in this field were of nitroglycerine by Sobrero in 1847 and TNT by Wilbrand in 1863. Of these, the first to attain commercial importance was nitroglycerine. 

Nitrocellulose is used in commercial high explosives mainly to thicken... 

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) is a colorless crystalline solid that is very sensitive to initiation by a primary explosive. It is a powerful secondary explosive that has a great shattering effect. It is used in commercial blasting caps, detonation cords, and boosters. PETN is not used in its pure form because it is too sensitive to friction and impact. It is usually mixed with plasticized nitrocellulose or with synthetic rubbers to form PBXs. The most common form of explosive composition containing PETN is Pentolite, a mixture of 20 to 50% PETN and TNT. PETN can be incorporated into gelatinous industrial explosives. The military has in most cases replaced PETN with RDX because RDX is more thermally stable and has a longer shelf life. PETN is insoluble in water, sparingly soluble in alcohol, ether, and benzene, and soluble in acetone and methyl acetate. 

Examples of secondary explosives are TNT, tetryl, picric acid, nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, nitroguanidine, RDX, HMX and TATB. Examples of commercial secondary explosives are blasting gelatine, guhr dynamite and 60% gelatine dynamite. 

Commercial Solvents Corp Method of Making Nitrocellulose- Nitroglycerin Water-Bearing Explosives Compositions... 

Commercial Solvents Corp Process of Gelling TMETN Nitrocellulose Explosives Using Nitroparaffin Solvents and TMETN Nitrocellulose Explosive Gels... 

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