Other Dibasic Alcohol Nitrates

The simple procedure to prepare methylene glycol is described below. Formaldehyde-sulfuric acid solution is dropwisely added into a mixed acid of nitric acid and sulfuric acid slowly at 2-5 °C. An oily product will be formed and separated out. The product will be washed by water and treated for stability. The yield of the final product is 35 %. 

3- propanediol dinitrate is an oily liquid with a boiling point of 180 °C under 20 mmHg. It has a density of 1.393 at 20 °C, and a higher volatility and a lower viscosity than nitroglycerine. The mutually soluble regents with 1,3-propanediol dinitrate are the same as nitroglycerine. It can dissolve collodion very well. It would not be decomposed at 75 °C for 600 h. 

3- propanediol dinitrate is a strong liquid explosive with explosion heat of 4763.5 J/g (water vapor). The explosion point is 225 °C and the shock sensitivity is low. The characteristic height is 100 cm with 2 kg falling weight. Its lead-block value with water filling is 540 cm, equal to 90 % of nitroglycerine. The 93 % 

The nitration temperature of 1,3-propanediol should he controlled in the range of 0-10 °C. Under the appropriate condition, the conversion of 1,3-propanediol to 1,3-propanediol dinitrate is up to 96 %. The writer achieved 210.3 kg 1,3-propanediol dinitrate by 100 kg raw material of 1,3-propanediol. 

2-propanediol dinitrate, also called methyl glycol dinitrate, is an important dibasic nitrate ester. It has heen widely used in liquid propellants, liquid explosives, and explosive mixtures with urea perchlorate or hydrazine. 

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