Testing of TNT

Inspection. TNT is on the market in two grades, irnarily, crude and refined. The crude has not been crystallized from solvents, while the refined has. Of Lcse two grades, there may be several other grades ised on the melting-point (M.P.) or usually the ilidification point (S.P.). 

The crude TNT is the more common form in the nited States and when purchased by foreign govern-ents is shipped crude and either refined or blended L-feh other substances. The greater bulk of TNT made, to very recently, has been shipped crude, possibly Lly three plants in the United States manufacturing. e refined grade in any quantity. In the different a.nts the product is obtained in lots of approximately lOO pounds each, called runs.  

The specifications usually call for containers, such cases or kegs, which hold from 60 to 100 pounds, e lined with oiled paper, and numbered as to ship-3iit, run and case. The inspector may be ex-cted to check the weights, and take samples for. alysis. 

Sampling. Samples should represent lots of 4000 lands, and for convenience a composite sample from o runs is often taken. The cases are selected, opened, 

Testing. Color should be light yellow for crude, cream for refined. 

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A sensitive ELISA procedure was developed for the determination of TNT (221) and other nitroaromatic compounds. TNT can be detected within the range of 0.02-20 ng/L in water samples462. A simplified immunofiltration prepacked portable device for field screening tests of TNT in water and soil was also developed. A quantitative color response to concentrations of TNT in the range 1-30 ng/L in water and 50-1000 pg/g in soil was demonstrated463. 

Simultaneous TGA and DTA were used by Maycock et al. to study the kinetics of the isothermal and adiabatic thermal decomposition of 8-HMX (one of the polymorphs of HMX) under helium atmosphere and reported activation energy [44] —63 KcalmoT1. The use of simultaneous DTA/TG has been reported for compatibility testing of TNT with two epoxy-and two alkyd resins paints [21, 45]. 

Bases Used in the Manufacture of Explosives and Propellants Following are a few examples of bases used in expl plants and labs a)Ca hydroxide has been used as a catalyzer in some reactions and as neutralizer of acidic wastes from plants manufg acids, TNT, etc b)Ammonium hydroxide- as a neutralizer of acidic materials and as a purifier of crude TNT(such as was practiced during WWII at the Vest Virginia Ordnance Works). Its use in chem labs is very extensive c)Na hydroxide has been used in some plants for neutralizing acidic substances. For instance, red waters(< -v) of TNT plants are neutralized and made alkaline prior to their concn in stills. Lab uses include titrations of acids manufd at the plants d)K hydroxide has been used in labs of plants for colorimetric testing of TNT and DNT, etc... 

The potential for phytotoxicity from explosives is discussed at length elsewhere in this volume (see Chapter 3). Few studies of the phytotoxicity of these chemicals have been undertaken, and most of these, which are reviewed in Rocheleau et al. [13], were tests of TNT. Concentrations of TNT that reduce shoot or root biomass in crop test plants in the laboratory range from about 0.1 mg kg-1 to >1600 mg kg 1 dry soil [14-17], Phytotoxicity tests with amended soils produced lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) values for TNT ranging from 0.1 to 64 mg kg 1 depending on plant species and exposure type used [15] (see Chapter 3). Plant growth was not affected by HMX at concentrations up to approximately 1900 mg kg1 dry forest soil [16], and additional studies suggest that nitroheterocyclic compounds are not as toxic... 

Levine and coworkers (1990) have conducted a 6-month oral toxicity test of TNT in beagle dogs. The major toxic effects observed were hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia, liver injury, splenomegaly, and death. A dose of 32 mg/kg/day was lethal to the dogs. 

Lead Plate Cutting Test. 116-19% of TNT (Ref 30) (See also Encycl 2, B280)... 

Trauzl Test. 21,.4% of TNT when pure (Ref 26) for mixts see below Uses. It does not gelatinize NC (Ref 15). It improves the octane rating of diesel fuels (Ref 26). It decreases the polymerization rate of methyl methacrylate (Ref 24), and styrene (Ref 23), but. does not inhibit the reaction. A review of its use as an oxidizer in rocket propints is given in Ref 33. TeNMe gives yellow to orange colors with olefins and aromatic compds. This is used as a diagnostic test for the presence of these groups in org analysis (Refs 6, 9, 16, 17 29)... 

An 87 13 mixt with benz gave a Trauzl test of 134% of TNT (Ref 26). Mixts of from 65 to 90% by wt in benz had a card gap test of over 300 cards, indicating them to be very sens (Ref 36). The sensy of mixts with benz was found to be due to the formation and collapse of cavitation bubbles in the liq (Ref 43) Ethylene Glycol. A 50% soln by wt had a card gap test of 270 cards (Ref 36)... 

Methylnitropropanolnitrate readily gelatinizes collodion cotton and, to a lesser extent, higher-nitrogen NC. Its explosive power is comparable to that of TNT, and about 75% of that of blasting gelatin. It is very insensitive to detonation, and for this reason its sand test value could not be detd... 

Power. About 135% of TNT in BalMort Test about 160% of TNT in Trauzl Lead Block Test Rifle Bullet Test. High order detonations Thermal Stability. 9 to 30 minutes in 82.2°... 

Laminae 4116 and Selectron 5003, were found to be satisfactory and interchangeable for use in these compns. These expls are thermally stable, relatively insensitive to mechanical shock, and have a brisance approaching that of Comp C-3. Weight-drop impact tests indicate them to be of the order of sensitivity of TNT... 

Novit (Swed). An underwater expl consisting of TNT 50 and Hexanitrodiphenylamine (HNDPhA) 50%, invented prior to WWI. Its properties were loading d, 1.65—1.68g/cc relative brisance, 103% (TNT 100%) Qe f iOOOcai/g (TNT 950) power by Trauzl Pb biock test, 315cc (TNT 290cc) and vel of deton 7200m/sec (TNT 6800)... 

The power of Parazol, as detd by Cope (Ref 1), is about 86% of TNT (Bal Mort Test, consisting of detg the quantity of Parazol required to cause deflection equal to the deflection from lOg of TNT). It is less sensitive to detonation than TNT and, when confined, requires a very powerful detonator... 

AMCP 706-177 (1971) gives the power of PETN as 145% of TNT in the Ballistic Mortar and 173% of TNT in the Trauzl block. It also lists PETN s brisance at 1.5g/cc as 129% of TNT as detd in plate dent test. The Russians use a somewhat different measure of power which they call total efficiency . This involves computing expln product expansion to 1 atm. Andreev Belyaev (Ref 25, p 655) list the total efficiency of 1.6g/cc PETN as 134% of TNT... 

Its rate of detonation, as detd by the Dautriche method, was about the same as that of TNT (6880m/sec). Its sensitivity to impact, as detd in Fr, was considerably lower than for PA, but according to tests conducted in Engl, TNPht was more sensitive than PA (Ref 8). When pellets of TNPht (d 0.25g/cc) were fired in a manometric bomb, the pressure developed was 2490kg/sq cm, as against 3230 for PA... 

Ballistic Strength. 100% T NT (BuM ine s) Explosion Temperature. Does not expld or ignite at 360° or below Heat of Combustion. 8l8.1kcal/mole Hygroscopicity. Practically none Impact Sensitivity. Comparable to TNT Power. By Trauzl test, 103% TNT Rifle Bullet Test. No detonations from impact of. 30 cal bullet at 90 ft Thermal Stability. Unsatisfactory, loses 49% of wt in 48 hrs at 75° (International Test) Velocity of Detonation. No information Salts of (m-Nitrophenyll-dinitromethane. Milone and Massa (Ref 2) prepd several metallic salts and found that their expl power decreased with increasing atomic v/t of the metal Following are some of the expl salts K salt—yel crysts ... 

Explosive D is approx 80% as brisant as TNT, as indicated by sand tests, but fragmentation tests in shell have shown it to be about 95% as brisant. Both expls have about the same rate of detonation at a d of 1.56g/cc hence, approx equality of brisance would be expected. The rate of detonation of Explosive D has been found to be somewhat affected, particularly at lower loading densities, by the granulation of the material, but this effect is not pronounced. Its expl strength is 98% that of TNT, as evidenced by the ballistic pendulum test (see below)... 

Brisance. Sand Test, 200g bomb 37.5 to 39.5g sand crushed vs 48.0g for TNT (78 to 82.5% TMT) PIsts Dgjjj Test Method A for pressed confined charge, 91% of TNT at d 1.50g/cc Explosion Temperature. 

VIII. Explosive Characteristics. Picric Acid is generally considered to be a relatively insensi tive but brisant expl. On a qualitative sensitivity scale of comparing common expls, PA would be judged to be more sensitive than TNT but appreciably less sensitive than Tetryl. Its power and brisance are also similar to those of TNT (112% TNT in the Ballistic Mortar 101% of TNT in the Trauzl Block and 107% in the plate dent test (Ref 48). In this section we will consider the steady detonation parameters. initiation characteristics and potential hazards of PA... 

Impact sensitivity. BuMines app, 2kg wt, 35cm vs 100+cm for TNT PicArsn app, 10 inches vs 9 inches for Pentolite and 14 inches for TNT Initiation sensitivity. Can be detonated by 0.21g of MF, and does not require a booster Power. BalMort test, 138—45% of TNT, 130% Pentolite... 

Let s calculate the mass that was converted into energy in the first atomic bomb test. Measurements on the ground indicated that the explosive force of the bomb was equivalent to 37,200,000 pounds (16,874,000 kg) of TNT. That is so much TNT that scientists now measure atomic bomb explosions in kilotons (kt) of TNT. A kiloton is equal to 1,000 tons or 2,000,000 pounds (907,185 kg). Using the new units, the yield of the first bomb would be ... 

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