Nitroglycerin chemical structure

The capacity of the molten nitroglycerine to crystallize again in its original form was proposed by Hibbert [16] as evidence for the supposition that both variants are isomers (A) and (B) differing in chemical structure ... 

In propellant chemistry, especially so in the case of nitrocellulose-containing powders, the stabilizers employed are compounds which, owing to their chemical structure, prevent the acid-catalyzed decomposition of nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and similar nitrate esters. 

Figure 3. Chemical structure of nitroglycerine (NG), dinitrotoluene (DNT), trinitrotoluene (TNT), pentanerythritoltetranitrate (PETN), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), and trinitrophenyl-n-methylnitramine (Tetryl). Open structures (two on left) are more likely to decompose compared with closed aromatic ring structures.

Stability of nitrate esters is a factor to decide if they can be long-term stored [44]. Because of their structure, they could be decomposed by hydrolysis and spontaneously burned to cause explosion. The higher the purity of esters is, the lower the risk of decomposition is. The stability depends on the chemical structure of nitrate esters. For example, the stability for most pure nitrate esters, such as methylene glycol dinitrate, nitroglycerine, glycol dinitrate, 1,3-propanediol dinitrate, pentae-rythritol tetranitrate, and cellulose nitrate, is acceptably high. 

Explosion is burning that takes place sonically, hence, a shock front is produced. The damage mechanisms are physical destruction from the shock wave, collateral damage from falling structures, and human bums. Suffocation and poisoning are not usually associated with an explosion because of its short duration. A chemical explosives such as nitroglycerine, trinitrotoluene, dynamite, and others were discussed in Section 7.2.6. 

Typical materials containing oxygen and nitrogen atoms are nitrate esters, such as nitrocellulose (NC) and nitroglycerin (NG). Nitrate esters contain -O-NO2 chemical bonds in their structures. The oxidizer component is represented by the oxygen atoms and the fuel components are the carbon and hydrogen atoms. The oxidized combustion products are COj and HjO, the AHjp values of which are -8.94 MJ... 

Whether it is a -C-NO2, -O-NO2, or -N-NO2 link, all these structural features yield substances that are high explosives. Nitroglycerine, cyclonite, pentaerythrytol tetranitrate, tetryl, trinitrobenzene, trinitro-tolnene, and pentanitroaniline are examples of high explosives. The terms high explosives and low explosives are used for qualitative comparisons only. The explosive power of chemicals or their compositions is determined by their brisance and detonation velocity (see. Part A in Section IV). 

To study the detonation of liquid explosives and its spreading/transportation, nitromethane, nitroglycerine, diethyleneglycol dinitrate, and methyl nitrite are designed as the objectives of liquid explosives to study the chemical dynamics and the complex unsteady process of shock waves combustion. These phenomena determine the structure of detonation wave fronts and spreading limit of detonation waves. They help to clear the flow dynamics of wave fronts, and refer suggestions for the formula of liquid explosives, study and application of equipment features. They help to improve and perfect the detonation theory. 

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