Tetryl development

Immunotoxicity. The information located regarding immunological effects in animals and humans following exposure to tetryl is limited. Some workers exposed to tetryl developed... 

Tetiyl. 2,4,6-Trinitrophenylmethylm tramine (tetryl) was used ia pressed form, mostly as a booster explosive and as a base charge ia detonators and blasting caps because of its sensitivity to initiation by primary explosives and its relatively high energy content. Properties are presented ia Table 11 (173). Batch and continuous processes for the production of tetryl have been developed. Tetryl is no longer used ia the United States and has been replaced by RDX (174-178). 

PTX-1. An expl developed at PicArsn during WWII for use in land mines and demolition charges. It contained Tetryl 50, RDX 30 and TNT 20% mw 252 OB to CO -9%, to C02 —45% mp, eutectic 67°, pouring temp 90—95° d (cast) 1.68g/cc exudes at 65° and above sol in acet. Prepd by adding the appropriate wt of w-wet RDX to 40/60 Tetrytol previously melted in a steam-jacketed melt kettle. Heating and stirring are continued until all the w is evapd and the mixt is uniform in compn. It can also be prepd by adding Tetryl to Composition B Blast. Relative to TNT in air impulse 109%,... 

Some individuals have become sensitized to tetryl and developed a rash in response to recontact with even small amounts of the substance. ... 

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. 

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... 

The hot gases from the percussion primer permeate thru the baffle and initiate the BkPdr delay pellet, which burns under the reproducible pressure conditions which are obtained within the delay element housing, with a delay time of 0.035 sec. When the BkPdr element has burned thru, a spit of flame impinges on a detonator loaded with LA a true detonation develops and progresses successively thru the Tetryl-loaded lead-out, the Tetryl-loaded booster lead-in, the Tetryl-loaded booster and Explosive D (Ammonium Picrate) -loaded main (or bursting) charge of the projectile. 

The electric detonator is ordinarily used to actuate a booster or booster lead (usually Tetryl). At the time of publication of NOLR 1111, which was 1952, electric detonators were used in Naval mine and torpedo firing mechanisms and to a limited extent in Army fuzes (See also Section 2, Part C, History of Development of Detonators, etc")... 

Refs 1) E.F. Reese, Develop Process for Reclamation of Tetryl Scrap Containing Stearic Acid , PATR 1131 (1941) 2) G. Weingarten,... 

Develop Improved Lubricant and Binder for Pelleting Tetryl , PATR 1261 (1943)... 

Similar unsatisfactory cook-off prematures were obtd with Caliber. 50 Explosive Bullet developed by die Hunter Manufacturing Co and submitted in 1943 to tests at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The bullet had a firing pin, a LA detonator, an arming wire in the nose, and an expl chge of 15 grains of Tetryl... 

Heat of combustion (calcd) 812.6 kcal/mol Heat of explosion (calcd) 303.4 kcal/mol Impact sensitivity (FT) = Tetryl Power by ballistic mortar 129% TNT Power by Trauzl test 137% TNT Temp developed on expln (calcd) 3247 Thermal stability satisfactory This expl compd is not found in Beil or in CA... 

An explosive called tetryl was also being developed at the same time as picric acid. Tetryl was first prepared in 1877 by Mertens and its structure established by Romburgh in 1883. Tetryl (1.3) was used as an explosive in 1906, and in the early part of this century it was frequently used as the base charge of blasting caps. 

During World War II, an improved process was developed for producing petroleum naphthas ensuring unlimited quantities of toluene. Purification techniques were improved for TNT. Composites mixtures of TNT-PETN, TNT-RDX, TNT-tetryl, TNT-ammonium picrate, TNT aluminium, etc., were prepared. 

Here, one methyl group is oxidized and at the same time the benzene nucleus is nitrated in the 2-, 4- and 6-positions. Recently-developed techniques for the manufacture of tetryl treat methylamine with 2,4- or 2,6-dinitrochlorobenzene to give dinitrophenylmethylamine. This is then nitrated to tetryl. In both processes purification is carried out by washing in cold and boiling water, the latter hydrolysing the tetra-nitro compounds. Finally, the tetryl is recrystallized by dissolving in acetone and precipitated with water, or recrystallized from benzene. 

Note Compns, designated Ammonex K and L, were also developed with tetryl added in amounts equivalent to those of the Ammpierateusedin the above mixts. These mixts were not superior to those contg Ammpicrate when subjected to shell fragmentation tests... 

It is of interest to note that compound caps and detonators were developed in the US, by the DuPont Co, as early as 1912, but it was not until 1916 that a real advance was made when tetryl was first used for the base charge... 

A Hexanitromannite Cordeau, proposed by Sebert Fritsch to the Poudrerie a Sevran-Livry, developed a vel of deton of 7000 m/sec, but was considered too expensive too sensitive for coml use (Refs 3 5) More recently the SA D Explosifs et de Produits Chimiques manufd a Cordeau consisting of flat hollow Pb bands filled with Tetryl. It is claimed that flat Cordeau is easier to introduce into a bore-hole than round Cordeau. Other models of Fr Detonating Cords employing a PETN core a fabric cover are called Cortex, OD 4.8mm, gms of expl/m 8 vel of deton 5990-6410 m/sec and Eclair, OD 5.5 mm, gms of expl/m 11 vel of deton 6355-6745 m/sec. Primacord (American) had OD 5.2... 

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