PETN development

Nipolit (Nipolite). A propint or expl compn developed during WW1I at the Kraiburg plant of the Deutsche Sprengchemie GmbH. Two compns are reported Nipolit (tubes) contain PETN 35, NC (12.6% N) 34.1, DEGDN 30, stabilizer 0.75,... 

PETN was first described in 1894 (Ref 5). Methods for its large-scale production were developed in the late 1920 s and early 1930 s (Refs 15 17)... 

The PETN Detonation Pressure, P (also called the CJ Pressure), is shown as a function of packing density in Table 7 and in Fig 4. Note that the measured P values in Fig 4 lie quite close to the theoretical curve developed by Lee Homig (Ref 72), which is based on a Wilkin s type equation of state (see Vol 4, D294-L) with a Grueneisen ratio, r, for the detonation products, that is solely a function of specific volume. Shea et al obtained an effective T = 8.077 p-12.288 (Ref 74)... 

The development of combustion in PETN by shock was studied by Dubnov et al (Ref 93). Unfortunately, the original article is unavailable to us, but it appears that the effects of incident shock velocity, reflected shock pressure and temp, surrounding gas, and surface roughness of the PETN were examined Deflagra tio n-to -De torn tion Transition (DDT)... 

PEP-3. One of the US plastic high expls developed during WWII, consisting of PETN 86 and Gulf Crown E Oil 14%. Its sensitivity, stability and performance properties are detailed below ... 

PIPE. A plastic expl developed by the US Ordn Corps during WWII, It is a mechanical mixt of PETN (81%) and Gulf Crown E Oil (19%) ... 

Tolerance to nitrates is defined as the reduction in hemodynamic effect or the requirement for higher doses to achieve a persistent effect with continuous use in the face of constant plasma concentrations [15]. Nitrate tolerance was first described for nitroglycerin in 1888 [36] it occurs with all organic nitrates, albeit to different extents. For reasons that are not understood, PETN appears to be the least susceptible to the development of tolerance. No, or much less, tolerance is observed with nitrite esters, such as amyl nitrite [37], molsidomine, and sodium nitroprusside. Earlier investigations suggested that a depletion of intracellular thiols is involved in tolerance development [17], but this has not been substantiated in later studies [38, 39]. As with organic nitrate bioactivation, the precise mechanism(s) involved in nitrate tolerance remain(s) unknown, but it is likely to be complex and multifactorial. Two principal... 

The newly developed equation of state was applied to the calculation of detonation properties. In this context, one stringent test of any equation of state is the prediction of detonation velocities as a function of initial densities, and we chose for this purpose PETN. The Cheetah results are shown in Figure 7 along with the experimental data.53 The agreement is again very good. 

Plastic explosives contain one or more of the explosives listed above, moulded in an inert, flexible binder. Because powders do not readily hold a shape and TNT is the only common melt-castable explosive, most of the explosive powders (RDX, HMX, PETN, 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB)) are plasticized to make a mouldable material, for example, C-4, Semtex H, PE4, sheet explosive. A variety of plasticizers are added, but the maximum level is usually 10-15% because most plasticizers are inert and would degrade explosive output. Plastic explosives were originally developed for convenient use in military demolitions but have since been widely used in terrorist bombs. For detection techniques that rely on vapour signatures, such as canine olfaction, it is worth considering that the plasticizer is much more volatile than the explosive component. 

TATP is unique in that it is a material that never received any serious consideration for military or commercial applications. It was studied by numerous groups, but primarily for academic reasons. Minimal literature references exist on it. TATP was first reported by Wolfenstein in 1895 [6], Since that time, numerous recipes have been developed for its preparation. One of the most useful studies of its properties as an explosive was conducted by Rohrlich and Sauermilch [7], They determined that TATP had a TNT equivalency of approximately 88% based on lead block expansion. They prepared a firing train consisting of 0.05 g TATP (pressed at 250 kg/cm2) in contact with pentaerythrital tetranitrate (PETN) to produce reliable blasting caps. Other experiments determined that a 0.16-g portion of the peroxide (density = 1.35 g/cm3) could initiate TNT. 

Cook (Ref 1), in describing thermal decomposition of some HE s conducted in the quartz spring apparatus (described in Ref 1, p 175 and shown there in Figs 8.1a 8.1b), stated that PETN, RDX, Tetryl and to a small extent TNT decomposed autocatalyti-cally. EDNA followed the first-order decomposition law only until about 5% of the explosive had decomposed and then the reaction stabilized. The term autostabilization was applied here on the supposition that one of the condensed decomposition products of EDNA which accumulated in the explosive apparently tended to stabilize the bulk of expl and thus slow down the decomposition. After about 10% of the expl had decompd, however, the "autocatalysis developed. 

Detonation, Molecular Theory of. Based on the Kihara Hikita Equation of State (See in Section 3, k2), these authors developed a theory which explained the variation of detonation velocity with loading density which was found satisfactory for PETN,... 

If decomposition proceeds at the same rate over entire range until practically no sample remains (like with(AN),it is said that the explosive exhibits (ideal) first-order decomposition, and that no autocatalyzation takes place as in the decompn of.PETN,Tetryl or RDX. EDNA followed the first-order decomposition law only until ca 5% of the expl had decomposed. This was followed by autostabilization, the term applied here on the supposition that one of the condensed decompn products of EDNA which accumulated in the sample apparently tended to stabilize it, thus slowing down the decompn. After ca 10% of the expl had decomposed, however, autocatalysis developed... 

Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate, abbrd as PETN), C(CH2 0N02)4- Its prepn, props, uses and analysis are described by Belgrano (Ref 31, p 176—183) Its props given on p 181 of Ref 31 are as follows Density (max) 1.62, Explosion Temperature 195°, Flame Temperature on Explosion (Temperature Developed on Explosion)... 

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