Properties and Preparation of Tetranitromethane

Tetranitromethane (TNM) is a colorless to pale yellow oily liquid with odor similar to nitrogen dioxide, the relative density of 1.6377, melting point of 14.2 °C, boiling point of 126 °C and refractive index of 1.4382225. Tetranitromethane is 

Tetranitromethane is positive oxygen balance explosive, but it is not sensitive to detonation. Even with 10 g of tetryl explosive can not make it fully detonated. 

Heat or vacuum stability No gas is released from 2.5 g sample for 6 h at 90 °C 

Friction sensitivity Two explosions from 10 times of friction pendulum 

Hit (impact) sensitivity 2 kgf.m, at least one explosion from ten dropping trials with 2 kg hammer, characteristic drop height of 100 cm (2 kg dropping hammer). 

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