Sciencemadness Discussion Board - Interesting energetic materials

Interesting energetic materials

BromicAcid - 2-12-2003 at 15:32

I recently borrowed "Reactive Chemical Hazards" from my library. The book being over 1600 pages was almost completely comprised of explosives, front to back cover. So, I went through it, almost every single page looking for things to catch my eye, these are sum of the highlights. Some may have been discussed before many are totally impractical to study, but what the hey, I'm hoping to inspire here and this is a sciencemadness board after all!

Quote:

3 - Nitroperchlorylbenzene
O2NC6H4ClO3
"McCoy, G., Chem. Eng. News, 1960, 38(4), 62"
The nitration product of perchloryl benzene is explosive, comparable in shock-sensitivity with lead azide with a very high propagation rate.

1,1,1,3,5,5,5 - Heptanitropentane
(O2N)3CCH2CH(NO2)CH2C(NO2)3
"Klager, K. et al., Propellants, Explos., Pyrotech., 1983, 8, 25-28"
This explosive compound has a +12% oxygen balance so can function as an oxidant.

1,1-Diazidoethane
(N3)2CHCH3
"Forster, M. O. et al., J. Chem. Soc., 1908, 93, 1070"
The extreme instability and explosive behavior of this diazide caused work on other gem-diazides to be abandoned.

Aluminum tetraazidoborate
Al[B(N3)4]3 or AlB3N36
"Mellor, 1967, Vol. 8, Suppl. 2, 2"
A very shock sensitive explosive, containing nearly 90 wt% of nitrogen.

Also, an interesting note on tetranitromethane, "When mixed with hydrocarbons in approximately stoicheiometric proportion a sensitive highly explosive mixture is formed.... explosion of only 10 g of a mixture with toluene caused 10 deaths and severe injuries..." jeeze, that sounds like quite the accident.

E. by Chemo: title

[Edited on 9-8-2005 by chemoleo]

KABOOOM(pyrojustforfun) - 4-12-2003 at 13:50

for 1,1,1,3,5,5,5 - Heptanitropentane see mega's site
Al tetraazidoborate would disperse <font color=red>hot</font> B & Al into air upon detonation making a dazzling fireball
Edit: not the pyrophoric metal but the very stable nitrides BN and AlN

[Edited on 8-12-2003 by KABOOOM(pyrojustforfun)]

cumbustion - 9-8-2005 at 11:06

What of their preparations?

neutrino - 9-8-2005 at 15:52

Quote:

Al[B(N3)4]3

12 azide groups per molecule!? I'm sure that'll get some people here drooling!

Swany - 9-8-2005 at 16:40

How about XeO3? The first oxide explosive developed in 1962. XeF6 and XeF combonations(white solids) were left in water and XeO3 formed accidently. Naturally it is quite unstable and it took a while to solve the puzzling decomposition of what were assumed to be xenon flurides.

To make XeF6, XeF4, and XeF8, you react flurine and xenon in a nickel crucible at 400C. For more information see The Noble Gasses by Isaac Asimov. It is an interesting read.

The preperation of Xe compounds seems to be true sciencemadness material.

praseodym - 9-8-2005 at 23:44

But they have relatively low melting points.
This link here has more information on xenon compounds.

S.C. Wack - 10-8-2005 at 20:23

Mellor's did not give a reference unless it is in an earlier paragraph. It appears that the cpd is made from aluminum borohydride Al(BH4)3 and HN3. Al borohydride is made from other borohydrides and an Al halide, but is nasty stuff itself. A preparation of the borohydride is here.

Chris The Great - 11-8-2005 at 19:27

Ethylammonium tetranitratozincate
(EtNH3+)2 Zn(NO3)4 -2
Zn(NO3)2 + EtNH2 in liq. N2O4 solution
C.C. Addison & N. Hodge, JCS 1954, 1138-43 & CA 48, 7477 (1954)

N1,N6-(Ditetrazolyl-5)-hexazadiene<pre>
N-NH-C=N-N=N-N=N-N=C-NH-N
|| | | ||
N----NH HN---N</pre>
The ends are rings, if you can't interpret the above poorly shown structure.
Explodes when rubbed
N content= 87.49%
Prepared by diazotization of 5-amino tetrazole, followed by treatement with an aq. solution of hydrazine hydrochloride in the presence of sodium acetate at low temp.
Forms explosive salts.
Not sure what references give the synthesis, check The Encyclopedia of explosives Vol 1 pg A260.

Other interesting explosives are ammonium and hydrazine salts of oxidizers, for example ammonium permangante and ammonium dichromate. Hydrazine salts of those acids are probably also explosive.

Madandcrazy - 12-8-2005 at 06:50

Interesting thread.

N1,N6-(Ditetrazolyl-5)-hexazadiene more a fantastic stuff than it exist in realy ?

Listed materials are probably instable.

Chris The Great - 12-8-2005 at 23:16

No, surprisingly it does actually exist, but it is very sensitive. I will attempt a preperation when/if I get some 5-amino tetrazole prepared for some other experiments I want to try. I only found out about the tetrazole ring structure a few days ago but I find it quite interesting, so of course I am going to make some compounds containing it.

DeAdFX - 23-7-2006 at 20:49

http://www.intdetsymp.org/detsymp2002/PaperSubmit/FinalManus...

Hmm... This document compares the effects of Nanometer Aluminum against Micrometer Aluminum in Ammonium Nitrate, TNT/RDX, and PBX based explosives.

franklyn - 24-7-2006 at 09:55

Unless the aluminum has been in an inert atmosphere all the time
as well as when mixed, it will have a surface oxide layer. This
probably has the single most contribution to reactivity or lack
of, with this material. While particle size will matter, I really
doubt it makes a difference to have colloid sized particles as
opposed to suspension sized. The added detraction is that the
greater surface area means that more alumina / oxide is present
and therefore contributes more inert matter to interfere with
detonation. There probably exists a happy median as to ideal
particle size but this author does not delve into answering
the question.

As an alternative to buying expensive ready made reagents be aware
Calcium is dissolved entirely by anhydrous ammonia, which upon
drying percipitates as the elemental pyrophoric powder. Larger
particle size is used for thermate and flash compositions however.

.

SilencePlease... - 12-8-2008 at 04:08

I regret to inform that my pdf with B(N3)4 salts has gone missing....

"They" made it by reacting HN3 with a R-NH-B(N3)2:

R-NH-B(N3)2 + 2HN3 > R-NH3.B(N3)4

I can recall R being 2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexane.

F2Chemist - 14-8-2008 at 11:49

Quote:

Originally posted by Swany
How about XeO3? The first oxide explosive developed in 1962. XeF6 and XeF combonations(white solids) were left in water and XeO3 formed accidently. Naturally it is quite unstable and it took a while to solve the puzzling decomposition of what were assumed to be xenon flurides.

To make XeF6, XeF4, and XeF8, you react flurine and xenon in a nickel crucible at 400C. For more information see The Noble Gasses by Isaac Asimov. It is an interesting read.

The preperation of Xe compounds seems to be true sciencemadness material.

XeO3 is simply the oxidation of XeF4. XeF4 is easily prepared by reacting Xe and F2 at high temperatures. It is also a minor contaminant when XeF2 is prepared using UV light (Xe + F2 + UV light). This used to be a big problem with the preparation of XeF2...trace amounts of XeF4 were made, leading to an explosive mixture.

XeF8 does not exist. It's reported synthesis was later disproved.

XeF2 is a beautiful compound...nice white crystals.

JohnWW - 14-8-2008 at 13:13

Xenon(VIII) tetroxide, XeO4, also exists, as a crystalline solid, obtained by the action of O3 or atomic oxygen on XeO3 or xenates(VI). There may also be an (VIII) oxyfluoride, XeO3F2. Although the (VIII) compounds, comprising XeO4 and perxenates XeO6--, are the most stable Xe compounds, they can still be dangerously explosive.

Formatik - 17-8-2008 at 20:18

Ozobenzene:

made by leading dry O3 into pure benzene for 10 to 12 hours at the highest 10º. It is an amorphous powder. Deflagrates if quickly heated at 50ºC. Explodes very violently from friction or pouring conc. H2SO4 or KOH solution over it. Warm water contact is also said to cause explosion. Water decomposes it immediatley to CO2, formic and acetic acids. Insoluble in alcohol, ether, CHCl3, CS2, and ligroin. Contact with ice water is said to form a crystalline material which explodes at the slightest touch. There is a reference of Scientific American Monthly 1, 144 (1920) stating it has a higher VOD than ordinary explosives. Its reported heat of explosion is 2000 cal/g, so using an estimated density of 1.78 g/cc, VOD is around 9452 m/s.

Dicyanogen-di-N-oxide:

crystalline solid is stable at -78ºC for several hours, it decomposes spontaneously at -45ºC in a vacuum without explosion emitting a white light, at atmospheric pressure and brought to room temperature, it detonates. It is made by treating dichloroglyoxime with Na2CO3 solution, this needs a more complicated work-up, dilution and cooling with solvents to avoid explosion.

Tetraacetylenedicarboxylic acid:

this is an extraordinarily explosive crystalline solid, and is decomposed by light turning red, then black. This black mass explodes when heated.

Diazotetrazole:

The free tetrazole is highly unstable, explosive and decomposes from heating by boiling in water basically to cyanogen and N2. It is known to explode in solution when the concentration reaches about 1%, but its salts are much more stable.

Sodium oxyazotetrazole: Na2C2N10O: the pentahydrate are yellow leaflets which explode exceedingly violently when heated.

Potassium pentoxime: K2C5H3N5O5: obtained as exceedingly explosive brown-yellow flakes by solubilizing pentoxime in
KOH and then precipitating with alcohol.

Acetoethyl nitrate (aldehydenitric ether). C2H4O.2(C2H5NO3): made by dry distillation of saltpeter with potassium ethylsulfate. It is a spicy smelling, sweet tasting liquid. Bp: 84-86 deg., D = 1.0451 at 19 deg. Explodes violently it heated above its boiling point. Insoluble in water and decomposes when warmed in KOH solution to aldehyde and KNO3.

[Edited on 17-8-2008 by Schockwave]

Formatik - 21-8-2008 at 20:03

Here's another drawing of 1,6-Di(tetrazol-5-yl)hexazadiene:

And then, here's an interesting document on a few related compounds, with discussion of some newer materials.

Formatik - 26-8-2008 at 23:23

A compound which might have the formula: CH3.C(OH)2.C(N.OH).C(N.OH).CO.O.C(OH.CH3).C(N.OH).C(N.OH).CO2H = C10H14N4O11 (Beilstein I 601) made by leading in N2O3 into ethereal solution of several times and freshly distilled levulinic acid (pure, crystallized levulinic acid doesn't form it). It is an amorphous powder being insoluble in cold solvents, and decomposes by heating. No idea on other properties, but it is said to explode by addition to H2SO4.

Acetyl nitrite: C2H3O3N, made from addition of NOCl onto silver acetate which is cooled with a freezing mixture. It's an unstable, gold-yellow liquid which decomposes in direct light, slower in diffused light, forming acetic anhydride and N2O3. Its vapor explodes violently on mild heating.

Alkyl nitrites: can be explosive, ethyl nitrite (can expl at about 90°C, Bp. 17.4°C), pentyl nitrite (expl heating above 250°C), and allyl nitrite (vapor is known to expl at 100ºC). But especially the gas (Bp. -16° C) methyl nitrite, which heat of formation gets us a TNT equivalence estimate of 122 to 132%.

Silver azidotetrazole: AgCN7, flakes which explode extraordinarily violently when warmed under water, or by contact in a moist condition.

Engager - 27-8-2008 at 10:03

Quote:

Originally posted by Schockwave
Here's another drawing of 1,6-Di(tetrazol-5-yl)hexazadiene:

And then, here's an interesting document on a few related compounds, with discussion of some newer materials.

This compound is well known, it's powerfull and extremely sensitive exposive. Can be made from hydrazine and diazotetrazole solution. I was once prepared sample of this substance it is star like yellowish crystalls, very violently exploding on small eternal stimulus. Compound could also form salts, and is slowly decomposed by water. Too dangerous to handle (on level of tetrazylazide), but extremely brisant.

Here is description of this substance from my tetrazole article:

3. Bis-diazotetrazolylhydrazine (H(CN4)-N=N-NH-)2 – yellowish crystaline plates, with characteric star like edges. Poorly soluble in water and organic solvents. Due to the high nitrogen content (14 nitrogen atoms and only 2 carbon atoms), the substance is an extremely powerful explosive. Pure product, thoroughly washed by ethanol melts at 120-123°С, where as the crude product explodes with terrible violence when heated to 90°С. Quite stable at room temperature, but very sensitive to friction and impact, violently explodes when rubbed with a glass rod or spatula. The action of alkaline solutions result in fast decomposition to 5-azidotetrazole, 5-aminotetrazole, nitrogen, ammonia and dicyan. Slowly decomposed when stored underwater due to hydrolysis. Can form extremely explosive salts, if water suspension of bis-diazotetrazolylhydrazine at 0°С is treated with a 20% solution of copper sulphate, greenish crystalls of copper salt are formed. Copper salt is extremely sensitive to friction, impact and fire, flash point 185°С. Bis-diazotetrazolylhydrazine is one of the richest on nitrogen from all known organic substances, containing 87.5% nitrogen.

Synthesis of bis-diazotetrazolylhydrazine: 0.75g of hydrazine chloride and 1.5g of sodium acetate are dissolved in 3 ml of water, solution is cooled in a sodium chloride/ice bath and a solution of 1.9g diazotetrazole (Note №1) is slowly added with stirring. The yellow amorphous precipitate is washed with ice cold water, alcohol, and ether and is dried at room temperature. This work requires the greatest caution, due the extremely explosive nature of synthesized substance.

Notes:

1. Solutions of diazotetrazole are extremely explosive and can explode spontaneously, so appropriate safety measures should be taken into account all the times. It’s not recommended to make amounts bigger than those presented in the synthesis procedure due to safety reasons. All works should be carried out by experienced chemist, with the greatest caution.

[1] P.F. Bubnov “Primary Explosives And Initiation Devices” Part 1, Moscow, Ministry of Defence Industry Press (1940), pp 313-314.
[2] L.I. Bagal “Chemistry And Technology of Primary Explosives”, Moscow, 1975, pp 399.
[3] L.I. Khmelnitskij “Handbook Of Explosive Materials” Part 2, Moscow, 1961, p 96.
[4] Patents DE362433C1, DE400814C1.

[Edited on 27-8-2008 by Engager]

Engager - 27-8-2008 at 10:15

Quote:

Originally posted by Schockwave
Diazotetrazole:

Here are descriptions of both substances from my tetrazole article:

Diazotetrazole

Diazotetrazole was first prepared by Thiele during the diazotation of 5-aminotetrazole with sodium nitrite in hydrochloric acid, but he failed to indentify reaction product, because at 0°С it exploded in solution. Later it was shown that the product of this reaction is the extremely unstable diazotetrazole. Diazotetrazole is an extremely sensitive and unstable explosive, 6-7% solutions can explode spontaneously even at 0°С, breaking the glassware used for the diazotation. In acidic environment diazotetrazole forms ions of tetrazolediazonum, which are combined with acid anion to form the diazonium salt. Tetrazole diazonium salt is also very unstable and its behavior resembles that of free diazotetrazole. In a basic environment diazotetrazole forms anions of tetrozoliumdiazotate, which are combined with base cations to form stable salts, readily soluble in water, and explosive in the dry state.

The extremely unstable nature if diazotetrazole and it’s diazonium salts is almost unprecedented for known chemical compounds, it can explode even in 1% solutions. The most likely reason for this instability is the strong electron withdrawing effect of the diazogroup, which lowers the stability of tetrazole ring and lowers the activation energy for decomposition to a neglible level. Stability of tetrazoliumdiazotate salts can be explained by the electron saturation of diazogroup by hydroxide ions, oxygen atom on the end of a diazogroup lowers its electron withdrawing ability and stabilizes the tetrazole ring. Tetrazolediazotate salts are so stable, what they can be simply prepared in free state.

Tetrazoliumdiazotate can exist in two isomeric forms; cis and trans form. Usualy the unstable cis form is formed first, and transforms to stable trans form by long boiling, reverse transformation takes place only by action of ultraviolet radiation.

The difference in stability of two forms is so great, that they can be practically be termed as different substances, because of the large difference in physical properties. For example the pale yellow or colorless trans diazotate salts are quite stable in the dry state, but the cis diazotate salts are unstable and explosive in dry state even with stabilizing aromatic rings. During acidification the bifunctional trans-diazotate anions transform to trans-diazotetrazole hydroxide or to N-nitrosoamine, which are further transformed to the cation of tetrazolediazonium. Formation of nitrosoamine can be easily noted by green coloration of solution, usual for nitrosoamines. Freshly prepared diazotetrazole solutions are always slightly green colored.

The Sodium salt of trans-tetrazolium diazotate Na(N4C)-N=N-ONa, exists as white needle-like crystals, is very soluble in water, and weakly soluble in ethanol. On heating the salt deflagrates without melting, solutions of the salt is acidic due to the hydrolysis. In a neutral or weakly acidic environment sodium salt solution reacts with lead salts, forming the lead salt of oxyazotetrazole, insoluble in water, alcohol and either, but soluble in hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide and ammonia. Salt deflagrates at 360°С. Barium salt of tetrazoliumdiazotate BaCON6 – yellow crystalls, readily soluble in water.

Diazotetrazole synthesis: 5g of aminotetrazole is dissolved in 30 ml of water, then 6 ml of 25% sodium hydroxide and 3.4g of sodium nitrite are added. After the nitrite is completely dissolved the mixture is cooled in an ice bath, placed in dropping funnel and is added slowly in 10-12 minutes with efficient stirring and cooling by ice cold water to mixture of 16 ml of 30% HCl with 170g of ice. Temperature of the reaction mixture should be below or at 0°С all times (Note №1). In the end of reaction mixture has slightly green color, because of presence of equlibrium quantities of nitrosoamine. Diazotetrazole solution is best used imidately, if that is imposible, it should be imidately transformed to tetrazolium diazotate by treatment with solution of sodium hyroxide (Note №2).

Notes:

1. Diazotetrazole is an extremely sensitive explosive, it’s water solutions at concentrations about 6-7% explode spontaneously even at 0°С, breaking up glassware used for diazotation. According to some sources at 0°С even 2% solutions can explode.

2. Because of the extreme unstable nature of diazotetrazole, it’s usually produced in the form of 2-3% solutions with use of appropriate safety procedures (use of shields), and if it is not needed for further synthesis, diazotetrazole must be imidately transformed into tetrazolium diazotate salt by action of 25 ml of 25% sodium hydroxide (until basic reaction). If diazotetrazole is needed for further synthesis, the solution of tetrazolium diazotate salt is cooled to 0°С and is activated by addition of corresponding amount of hydrochloric acid.

[1] Justus Liebig's Annalen der Chemie, Volume 273, Issue 2-3, pp 144-160 (1893) ; Johannes Thiele, J. T. Marais
“Tetrazolderivate aus Diazotetrazotsäure”.
[2] P.F. Bubnov “Primary Explosives And Initiation Devices” part 1, Moscow, Ministry of Defence Industry Press (1940), pp 311-312.

Sodium oxyazotetrazole

Sodium salt of oxyazotetrazole Na2C2N10O*5H2O. Then sodium tetrazolium diazotate solution in fairly concentrated solution is boiled for long time, or it’s warm solution is treated with stream of CO2, sodium salt of diazotetrazole trans-forms to sodium salt of oxyazotetrazole, precipitated from solution because of moderate solubility in water. Salt can be easily differed from diazotate by its characteristic dark-yellow color. Mechanism of this reaction is unknown, but it is most possible it is the same as formation of oxyazobenzene from benzolediazonium-nitrate and barium carbonate. The sodium salt of oxyazotetrazole exists as yellow crystaline plates, relatively insensitive to friction or impact, but exploding with terrible violence on heating. The barium salt of oxyazotetrazole is also known, it is a yellow compound crystallizing into a needle shape with 4 molecules of water. On prolonged boiling the salt slowly decomposes with formation of gaseous products, attempts to isolate free acid by action by action of strong acid solution on sodium salt resulted in formation of a solution, containing an unidentified substance which readily decomposed in solution. Structure of substance was not discovered because of very small amounts were available for analysis.

[1] Justus Liebig's Annalen der Chemie, Volume 273, Issue 2-3, pp 144-160 (1893) ; Johannes Thiele, J. T. Marais
“Tetrazolderivate aus Diazotetrazotsäure”.

Formatik - 29-8-2008 at 13:44

That's good stuff Engager. Lots of interesting chemistry in high nitrogen compounds.

Has anyone information and properties of acyl perchlorates, namely acetyl perchlorate? All I've been able to find its use in polymerization or as a catalyst, etc.

Formatik - 4-1-2009 at 23:43

Another compound worth mentioning, knowing how SM likes the tetrazoles, which compound in question is 5-Cyano-(a-tetrazole); tetrazole-5-carbonylonitrile (5-CNTZ) described shortly in Federoff C588-9. This substance is an already quite known energetics precursor itself. The silver salt, AgC2N5 is known to explode on heating. Barium salt is also known Ba(C2N5)2.3 1/2 H2O. Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 13, p. 708-710 from here mentions in addition to this and other items, the the silver salt (formula should be Ag2C4N12) of ditetrazyltetrazine (formed from cyanotetrazole and hydrazine, then EtNO2) which is described as a dark violet precipitate which explodes at 150 deg.

cyanotet.png - 47kB

Formatik - 4-1-2009 at 23:45

Then also trichloromethyl perchlorate which can be formed from AgClO4 and CCl4.

trichloromethyl.png - 26kB

Higher density formulations

franklyn - 5-1-2009 at 09:40

This peaked my interest only because the procedure is similar to that which
may be applied to the synthesis of tetranitromethane. I'm wondering out loud
so to speak, if the perchlorate analog methane could be realizable. C(ClO4)4
I have mentioned before the observation that density factors very significantly
not only in molecular compounds but to fuels and oxidizers in terms of energy
density. This is most salient in the fact that there is more hydrogen in a given
volume of gasoline than the equivalent volume of liquid hydrogen. The naive
notion that the pure elements reacting will provide the highest possible energy
density for an amount of material is evidently wrong. Not so well understood
is the fact that compounds particularly of trinitromethane similarly contain
more oxygen per given volume than the equivalent amount of liquid oxygen !
Download 2 file zip _ http://ifile.it/uwgtcvx
A further enhancement which might be possible for (bis)2,2,2-trinitroethyl-carbonate
would be to substitute the carbonate functional group with something more
energetic. The acid H2XeO4 formed by the hydrolysis of XeF6 allows the
application of a xenate XeO4= functional group. The result is a very energetic
explosive superrich in oxygen that can be exploited with strongly endothermic
fuels such as for example calcium carbide with an expectedly high performance.
We already know that ethyl perchlorate is exceedingly powerful but impractical
for it's sensitivity. I wonder also how a perchlorate of a 2,2,2-trintroethyl goup
might compare, the density is key, if it provides no advantage then there is
no point to it.

- For reasons unknown it remains insuperable to download a zip file from
the forum server that can be opened without producing a CRC error.

.

JohnWW - 5-1-2009 at 12:29

Quote:

Originally posted by franklyn
This peaked my interest only because the procedure is similar to that which
may be applied to the synthesis of tetranitromethane. I'm wondering out loud
so to speak, if the perchlorate analog methane could be realizable. C(ClO4)4
(cut).

Carbon tetraperchlorate, or tetraperchlorylmethane, if it could be made, is NOT analogous to tetranitromethane, C(NO2)4, because in the former the bonds are via oxygen, C(-O-ClO3)4, i.e. a covalent ester, whereas in the latter the bonds are C(-NO2)4. However, I doubt that it has been synthesized; I wonder if it could be done by forcing CO2 under great pressure into concentrated HClO4 or liquid Cl2O7.

The analogous nitrogen-containing ester (to the perchlorate ester) would be carbon tetranitrate, or tetranitrylmethane, C(NO3)4, with bonding via oxygen, C(-O-NO2)4; I doubt that it has ever been synthesized. I wonder if it could be made e.g. by forcing CO2 under great pressure into concentrated or fuming HNO3, or by the action of liquid CO2 under pressure on N2O5 (which however in the solid state is nitronium nitrate, meaning that formation of the nitro-compound via the NO2+ cation is more likely).

Methylene Dinitrate

franklyn - 6-11-2009 at 14:53

Formaldehyde hydrates to Methylene Glycol which nitrated at 5 ºC gives
Methylene Glycol Dinitrate but decomposes violently at 10 ºC , as far as it gets.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/114237605/abstrac...

Info on the Dinitrate CAS 38483-28-2
http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=1236...
http://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=38483-28-2&Unit...
http://www.nextbio.com/b/search/ov/Methylene+Dinitrate?id=51...
http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/ProxyServlet?objectHa...
- Nitrooxymethyl nitrate (IUPAC name) what a stupid name

.

franklyn - 25-6-2010 at 13:03

Regarding this post of this thread _
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=1172#p...
and the cited paper _
Detonation Properties of Explosives containing Nanometric Aluminum Powder
http://www.intdetsymp.org/detsymp2002/PaperSubmit/FinalManus...

and regarding my reply immediately following _
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=1172#p...
citing from the same source _
Nanometric Aluminum Powder Influence on the Detonation Efficiency of Explosives
http://www.intdetsymp.org/detsymp2002/PaperSubmit/FinalManus...
Read page 11 first two paragraphs of - DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION -

Within reason , for all practical purposes admixed aluminum particle size doesn't matter.

.

franklyn - 22-12-2010 at 06:46

http://www.aiexplosives.com/inspections_articles.asp?id=23

Gives an overview of common liquid explosives already discussed in other threads

.

interesting?

The WiZard is In - 22-12-2010 at 12:51

How bout ... Tetra silverdinitridooxosulfate (VI)

"Prepn is by addn of .... under red light."

Stumbled upon in in PATR 2700 [S 111] last night.

djh
----
His talk was like a stream, which runs
With rapid change from rocks to roses;
It slipped from politics to puns,
It passes from Mahomet to Moses;
Beginning with the laws which keep
The Planets in their radian courses;
And ending with some precept deep
For dressing eels, or shoeing horses.

Winthrop Mackworth Praed
The Vicar

quicksilver - 23-12-2010 at 07:04

Of interesting commercial explosives nitroguanadine is a good example.
Possibly one of the easiest of many to mfg; has been used by military for many decades (both alone and as TBSP)....and it is truly a "cool explosive". Otherwise similar to TNT in many ways, it is difficult to work with as the needle characteristic is very tough.

maxidastier - 29-12-2010 at 12:49

I've been making some NQ some time ago. If you can get the educts (most likely as a fertilizer) and use silica gel as catalyst the prep is rather easy if you take the risk and melt AN and hold it at 160°C for couple of hours....
But I think it's somewhat useless, because you need some real booster to get it detonated and that's what I don't have....but the needles still look beautiful

As far as I know NQ isn't used as a standalone for militar purposes, but often in mixture of NCand as it is smokeless and has a lower heat of explosion than NC and NG, which reduces erosion of the muzzle or however you call it in English ('m german)

But on this board it's not discussed very often (but Engager (or someone else) has a nice prep method.
Haven't seen any video on youtube of NQ detonation either.

Update to the above post - Methylene Dinitrate

franklyn - 2-4-2013 at 21:00

Chemistry & Technology of Explosives vol 2 by Urbanski
Synthesis as shown on page 155

www.chemicaldictionary.org/dic/M/Methylene-glycol-dinitrate_...
confirms properties as stated in Urbanski
Boiling point : 75 - 77 °C at 20 mmHg
Density : 1.54 g/cc at 17 ºC

www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.11859.html
additional property data
Boiling Point : 192.8 °C at 760 mmHg
Density : 1.657 g/cc ( this is likely frozen )

http://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C38483282&Mask=...
gives heat of formation as endothermic

* Note
To protect this material from hydrolysis , it can be absorbed into
one quarter it's weight in activated charcoal. The positive oxygen
balance will additionally provide 3 mols of CO ,
CH2(NO3)2 + 3 C => CO2 + 3 CO + H2O + N2

_________________________________________________

Speculation
The prospect of forming Methylene Dinitrite is intriguing.
I find it is an unknown compound. Unlike other alcohols as Methyl ,
Ethyl , Ethylene Glycol and Glycerine that require strong acid or a high
temperature to form an ester, Formaldehyde is a gas in solution that
can esterfy at mild conditions. Sodium Nitrite dissolved in cold 37 %
formaldehyde , later adding cold 30% HCl , obtaining what is surely a
high velocity explosive by the use of over the counter reagents ,
involving almost no chemistry.

2 NaNO2 + CH2(OH)2 aq / + / 2 HCl aq => 2 NaCl + 2 H2O + CH2(ONO)2

Rosco Bodine councils caution with the organic nitrites.
www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=6395#pid72904

.

Adas - 3-4-2013 at 11:29

How can the BP of MDN be 192°C when it decomposes violently above 10°C? O.o

[Edited on 3-4-2013 by Adas]

Fantasma4500 - 4-4-2013 at 11:23

36 nitrogen atoms.. drooling?? yes.
we should get this book up on this site tho.. sounds like a interesting book (;

franklyn - 5-4-2013 at 09:11

Quote: Originally posted by Adas

How can the BP of MDN be 192°C when it decomposes violently above 10°C? O.o[Edited on 3-4-2013 by Adas]

If the 10 °C is reliable ( I did not retain a reference for this )
it refers to the nitration mixture , which we all know in the
preparation of alkyl nitrates can readily exotherm unless the
nitration is done at cold temperature.

.

As far as the hypothetical dinitrite I propose , similar
structures give a clue to expectations. Methylene diazide
is sensitve but stable. Dinitromethane is not particularly
sensitive but is unstable and readily hydrolyzes unless
it is in the form of a salt. Geminal dihydroperoxides are
very sensitive and unstable , readily hydrolized and
polymerized.

.

Adas - 5-4-2013 at 09:24

Nobody has the balls to try it even on test-tube scale?

Many people have paraformaldehyde, HNO3 and H2SO4, I guess.

franklyn - 30-6-2013 at 16:49

2 NaClO4 + CH2(OH)2 aq/ + / 2 HCl aq => 2 NaCl + 2 H2O + CH2(ClO4)2 / / => CO2 + 2 HCl + 3 O2

franklyn - 24-1-2020 at 13:47

R E D U X

Reviewing previous postings I've noted that my conjecture on the facile formation of Methylene Dinitrite overlooks important considerations with regards to the expected outcome with the proposed synthesis.

The problem lies with the fixing of Formaldehyde ( CH2O ) in a usable form.

Formaldehyde is supplied in commerce as Formalin in aqueous solutions 37% , 44% , 50% unstabilized or stabilized with 12-15% Methanol. Here's the problem , the flamable gas Methyl Nitrite is also formed spontaneously from Methanol and 30 % HCl and NaNO2. This can be avoided using the commercial aqueous only solution. If it cannot be sourced it can be made by generating formaldehyde gas heating paraformaldehyde to 140 ºC and running that into a receiver with cold water.
( Methyl Nitrite ) with Sulfuric acid instead
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUOuHpsY8N4

The other big problem is Formaldehyde also reacts with Hydrochloric acid to form highly toxic bis( Chloromethyl ) ether.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bis(chloromethyl)_ether
HCl can be avoided by substituting Oxalic acid ( it is used to catalyze polymerization of Formaldehyde with Phenol to form Phenolic resin and itself remains unchanged.) The resulting Sodium Oxalate has low solubility.

Same thing goes for the proposed Methylene DiPerchlorate ester shown in the preceding post.

The resulting Methylene Dinitrite remains only hypothetical as there exists no citation for this the simplest of nitrite esters. Just for fun if you Google methylene dinitrite the results will prompt you to " Search instead for methylene dinitrite ". Click on that and the first result is this thread. That alone tells you everything you need to know.

Ethylene Dinitrite however is a known compound
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/17952161

Extensibly described here by forum member Rosco Bodine
www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=6395

US2166698 patent , Process of making nitrite esters of polyhydroxy aliphatic compounds
https://patents.google.com/patent/US2166698
https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/f3/86/4e/dcf8ec0...
or here _
www.pat2pdf.org/patents/pat2166698.pdf

.

Vomaturge - 24-1-2020 at 23:16

I've been wondering for a while, is there any report (even theoretical) on propylene glycol di perchlorate (the perchlorate analog to pgdn?)

My googling has only shown ethyl perchlorate and a ton of articles on lithium perchlorate solutions in propylene carbonate (an important aspect of battery chemistry it seems.)

Incidentally, a back of the envelope calculation shows that a perfect mixture of oxygen and propane should deliver about 8.5 kj/gm, and there is a small (and very cold) temperature window were both should exist as a liquid. Unfortunately, the two materials are only sparingly soluble. Does anyone know of a liquid fuel that is miscible (or soluble in stoichiometric quantities) with liquid oxygen?

Edit: reference https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281921173_Solubilit...

"Propane solubilities in oxygen determined were 2.24 % at 110 K and 5.70 % at 120 K"
That's enough to be worrying if it got introduced accidentally, but hardly enough to be useful.

[Edited on 25-1-2020 by Vomaturge]

franklyn - 25-1-2020 at 12:37

Quote: Originally posted by Vomaturge

I've been wondering for a while, is there any report (even theoretical) on propylene glycol di perchlorate (the perchlorate analog to pgdn?) [Edited on 25-1-2020 by Vomaturge]

I recently posted about this here _
www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=1081&page...

For some reason they skipped Propylene , but given that all the related others have been made it shouldn't be a problem.

Ethylene Diperchlorate , Propyl Perchlorate , Isopropyl Perchlorate , Tetramethylene Diperchlorate.

That full paper is here , thanks to Mako.
www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=62326&pag...

Quote: Originally posted by Vomaturge

Incidentally, a back of the envelope calculation shows that a perfect mixture of oxygen and propane should deliver about 8.5 kj/gm, and there is a small (and very cold) temperature window were both should exist as a liquid. Unfortunately, the two materials are only sparingly soluble. Does anyone know of a liquid fuel that is miscible (or soluble in stoichiometric quantities) with liquid oxygen?
[Edited on 25-1-2020 by Vomaturge]

Explosives of this type are called Sprengel Oxyliquits
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxyliquit

.

Vomaturge - 25-1-2020 at 16:54

I've heard of oxyliquit. I was thinking more about the specific scenario of a stoichiometric solution of a flammable liquid or gas in liquid oxygen. That would lead to a shorter reaction time, vastly thinner reaction zone, better control of the fuel oxygen ratio, higher density, and much higher VOD, than simply absorbing liquid oxygen into a solid fuel. I don't know how to calculate it, but I suspect that the greater specific energy released by such a solution would more than compensate for having a lower density than other explosives. It might have a higher VOD and peak pressure than PETN.

I just calculated the energy output again, and it looks like 44gm propane to 160 gm of oxygen would be the ideal ratio, and since propane has a lower heating value of 46.35 kj/gm according to Wikipedia, that gives a total energy release of about 10kj/gm. But liquid propane oxygen mixtures will never be capable of a high VOD, because most of the required propane will not dissolve and it would be a suspension, rather than a solution. A miscible cryogenic fuel would likely double or triple the VOD, and give a corresponding increase in brisance.

That paper was very fascinating. I knew of a few alkyl perchlorates, but didn't realize such a wide range of them had been created. If all of those have been made, I wouldn't be surprised if PGDP were possible after all! Thanks for sharing!

franklyn - 26-1-2020 at 08:22

The only prospects for your vision are _

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propene

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-Butene

Miscibility of these with O2 is not evaluated. Both have a density much less than LOX. Separating into phases is possible.

Methane or Ethane both melt at the boiling point of LOX
https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/111355/can-a-s...
Practical considerations
https://books.google.com/books?id=bsK7vQvNv8wC&lpg=RA5-P...

https://books.google.com/books?id=tDPoBwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA23&...

Same paper you cite from researchgate online here _
www.aiche.org/conferences/aiche-annual-meeting/2007/proceedi...

.

Vomaturge - 23-1-2021 at 23:16

Quote:

[Quote]...it was found that liquid CO and CH4 form clear homogeneous solutions with liquid O2 over the whole composition range from 0 to 100% O2.

I just had to bump this old thread to showthis. It looks like the results of a stoichiometric oxygen methane solution were not quite as impressive as I had hoped. The calculated heat of reaction, VOD, CJ-pressure and peak temperature were 11Mj/kg, 6.01 km/sec, 6.8 GPa, and 5830 K. The actual results were in the 5 km/sec range.

The temperature and energy are pretty high, given that HNB is estimated at around 5500K, HMX, PETN, RDX, and NG are all estimated to be in the 4300-4600 range, and NM and TNT are in the 3400-3800 range.

I think the combination of all triatomic combustion products and low density (880mg/cm^3) are the reason for the weak performance. I wonder what the far field blast effects are like, since it's 11Mj/kg with all gaseous products. I would expect that the distance for say, 200kPa overpressure is probably comparable to a TNT charge of over twice the weight...

[Edited on 24-1-2021 by Vomaturge]