Difference between revisions of "Pentaerythritol tetranitrate"

Revision as of 18:54, 29 May 2016

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate or PETN is an explosive material, widely used in military applications, mainly due to its good stability and general performances. It is a nitrated organic compound, with the chemical formula C₅H₈N₄O₁₂.

Properties

Chemical

PETN will burn if ignited in air, to release carbon dioxide, water vapor and soot.

PETN does not hydrolyze in water at room temperature, though this changes at high temperatures.

Physical

PETN is a white crystalline solid, insoluble in water, but soluble in acetone and dimethylformamide (40 g/100 g at 40 °C), as well as benzene and toluene. It also shows good solubility in ethyl acetate (106.19 g/kg EtOAc).^[2] It is also slightly soluble in alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol.

Explosive

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate is one of the most powerful explosive materials known, with a relative effectiveness (RE) factor of 1.66.

PETN is rarely used as a pure compound in explosive devices, instead it is mixed with various plasticizers, to form plastic explosives. When mixed with with RDX, binders (styrene-butadiene e.g.), plasticizers (such as n-octyl phthalate or tributyl citrate), antioxidants (N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine) and dyes (Sudan I or IV) it forms a very powerful plastic explosive called Semtex, widely used by various countries of the former Soviet block.

PETN is more difficult to detonate than primary explosives: dropping or igniting a block of PETN will not result in an explosion (at atmospheric pressure it is difficult to ignite and burns slow), however it is more sensitive to shock and friction than other secondary explosives such as TNT or tetryl.

Availability

PETN is sold in pharmacies as a vasodilator, as treatment for heart conditions. The heart medicine Lentonitrat is nearly pure PETN.

Preparation

PETN can be prepared by nitrating pentaerythritol using concentrated nitric acid.^[3]

Projects

• Make blasting charges

Handling

Safety

PETN is a vasoldilator and ingestion should be avoided.

Storage

PETN should be stored in closed containers. Urea is sometimes added as a stabilizer.

Disposal

PETN can be safely neutralized with Fenton's reagent.

References

1. ↑ Clayton, G. D. and F. E. Clayton (eds.). Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology: Volume 2A, 2B, 2C: Toxicology. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley Sons, 1981-1982., p. 4195
2. ↑ http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/j150566a032
3. ↑ http://www.google.com/patents/US2370437

Relevant Sciencemadness threads

• PETN synth
• PETN?
• Question about PETN
• PETN recrystallisation procedure for LOW density