Property and Preparation of Pentaerythritol Trinitrate

Pentaerythritol trinitrate with the code of ITMETN, also called 1,1,1-trimethylol ethane trinitrate, trimethylol methane trinitrate, dimethylol-2-propanol-l-trinitrate, methyl isobutanetriol trinitrate, methyl isobutyl glycerine trinitrate, or methyl tert-butanetriol trinitrate, is a very important nitrate ester. 

Pentaerythritol trinitrate is a light yellow sticky liquid with an odor of burning alcohols. 

The explosion heat (constant volume) of pentaerythritol trinitrate is 5271.8 J/g with liquid water. The specific volume is 967 ml/g and explosion temperature is 3,500 K. The lead-block value is 480 mL. The heat coefiftcient is 2824.2 J/g and the detonation coefficient is 49.91 J/g. The coefficient of specific coefficient is 9.661 L/kg. The detonation velocity of pentaerythritol trinitrate in an open vessel with a diameter of 30 mm is listed in Table 5.55. 

The thermal stability of pentaerythritol trinitrate is better than nitroglycerine. The duration time in Abel test at 72 °C is 40-45 min. 

Pentaerythritol trinitrate is prepared by a condensation reaction between formaldehyde and propionic aldehyde to pentaerythritol, which is farther nitrated by a mixed acid of nitric acid and sulfuric acid. The preparation condition is nitration coefficient of 5-6, nitration temperature of 20-25 °C, and nitration time of 25-30 min. The nitration yield at 10 °C with a mixed acid of 45 % nitric acid and 55 % sulfuric acid is 197-198 %, about 93 % of the theoretical yield. If 20 % fuming sulfuric acid is used, the yield can be increased to 97-98 % of the theoretical yield. The parameters of stability treatment with water-washing coefficient of 5 are listed in Table 5.56. 

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