TNT oil

The oil exudation product (TNT-oil) is very undesirable for the following reasons ... 

The solution of the problem was more closely approached by the use of highly nitrated aromatic hydrocarbons, especially the low-melting eutectic mixts of the isomers of di- and tri-nitrotoluenes (such as l,TNT oil" or "drip oil which dissolve readily in NG even at low temps and desensitize it much less than the mono-nitro compds. However, these compds did not produce dynamites which were absolutely non-freezing at the lowest winter temps reached in some countries such as in Canada or Siberia... 

The mixture, known as TNT oil , generally melts within a wide temperature range, for example from room temperature up to 60°C. It may be used as a component of ammonium nitrate explosives for the mining industry. 

The exudation process is a modified purification by crystallization. At present it is applied to purify grade m TNT and to recover impurities present in TNT for use as TNT oil in the preparation of explosive compositions. The process may be carried out in two ways. 

When used in blasting, ammonium nitrate is mixed with fuel oil and sometimes sensitizers such as powdered aluminum. Lower density ammonium nitrate is preferred for explosive formulation, because it absorbs the oil more effectively. When detonated,these mixtures have an explosive power of 40 to 50% that of TNT (see Explosives and propellants). 

Modified TNT. After WWI, a considerable quantity of Trojan grenade powd that had been spoiled by moisture, was available for use. It consisted of nitrostarch, Na nitrate, Amm nitrate, and a small quantity of oils. In order to utilize the powd, an equal amt of TNT was added, and the resulting mixt designated modified TNT was found to be an efficient expl. 

The effects of reactant feeding methods on toluene nitrations were studied by Yamasue et al (Ref 70) in a 15 liter nitrator with a 500rpm agitator. Production of pu re MNT or DNT was favored by addition of acid to the toluene or MNT, while in the production of TNT the addition of oil to acid is to be preferred, provided sufficient cooling and agitation is available. Purest TNT was produced when the MA contained free S03... 

O Brien Explosives. A series of patents were issued to J.F. O Brien of Chicago, HI, USA between 1913 and 1915 for new commercial expls. Typical formulations included K chlorate 30, Nitrostarch 10, Si dioxide 55, crude petroleum with coal dust 5ps (Ref 1) K chlorate 87, naphthalene 6.5, asphalt 6.5, crude oil distillate 1.5 Si dioxide 44ps (Ref 2) K chlorate with Na nitrate 60, Hq TNT 15 sawdust 25p (Ref 3) and Amm perchlorate 20—65, Na nitrate 55, liq DNT 10—15, sawdust 14-23 free C l-3.5ps (Ref 4)... 

Although perchlorate expls are fairly insensitive to mechanical action, they are, nevertheless, too sensitive for some applications. Incorporation of materials such as paraffin (as was done in the French Perammon and the English Blastine) or of castor oil (as was done in some Swiss expls), renders them quite plastic and insensitive to shock and friction. This addition might make these expls too insensitive to an initiating agent. In order to counteract this defect, small quantities of NG (as low as 4%) may be incorporated, as was done in some Perchloratits. The addition of NG not only makes the mixt more readily detonatable but it also helps to plasticize the expl, especially if aromatic nitrocompds, such as DNT, TNT, etc, are also present... 

Nitroglycerine /nitroglycol TNT Ammonium nitrate Sodium nitrate Cellu- losic Alumin- ium Oil Nitro- cellulose Other... 

Further properties which a detonating fuse should have are the ability to initiate blasting explosives (tested with suitable relatively insensitive mixtures usually of TNT and ammonium nitrate) resistance to low temperatures without cracking on flexing and to hot storage without desensitisation and toughness to prevent damage from stones, etc. The fuse must always be waterproof and must often withstand diesel oil, which can separate from ANFO. 

Synonyms CCRIS 1299 EINECS 204-289-6 Entsufon 1-Methyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene 2-Methyl-l,3,5-trinitrobenzene NCI-C56155 NSC 36949 TNT 2,4,6-TNT a-TNT TNT-tolite Tolit Tolite Trilit Trinitrotoluene sj/ 3-Trinitrotoluene Trinitrotoluol a-Trinitrotoluol sym-Tx -nitrotoluol Tritol Triton Trotyl Trotyl oil UN 0209 UN 1356. 

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