THE PREPARATORY MANUAL OF EXPLOSIVES

A LABORATORY MANUAL

Jared B. Ledgard, A.A.S., B.S., M.A.

Organic chemist, Inventor Seattle, Washington USA

Contents
Section I: Introduction Chapter 1 Chemical bonding: oxidation states Ionic compounds and ionic bonds Covalent compounds and covalent bonds Understanding chemical structures and formulas Chemical reactions Language of chemistry Conversion factors Section II: Tutorial Chapter 2 Lab safety Laboratory equipment Methods of heating Methods of cooling Extraction Recrystallization, product recovery, and filtration Washing liquid and solids Drying agents, and drying liquids Distillation Final lesson: A tutorial on explosives The dynamics of detonation Detonation verses deflagration and combustion Primary, and secondary explosives Initiation of explosives The power of explosives The physical effects of explosives Section III: Chemical reagents, intermediates, and solvents Chapter 3 Section IV: Explosives and explosive compositions Chapter 4: The preparation of metal azide, fulminates, and nitrides 4-01. AZ AZ Ammonium azide 4-02. CZ Cupric azide CZ rim fire composition 4-03. SZ Silver azide 4-04. MZ Mercury azide 4-05. LZ Lead azide 4-06. Mercury fulminate Priming mixture Gunpowder Rim fire composition Rim fire composition Initiating mixture 4-07. Silver fulminate Priming mixture 4-08. Copper fulminate 4-09. Silver nitride 4-10. Mercury nitride 4-11. Sulfur nitride Chapter 5: Preparation of Azides and azo nitros 5-01. BDPF Bis(1,3-diazido-2-propyl)formal page 1 page 1 page 1 page 2 page 3 page 4 page 6 page 6 page 7 page 9 page 9 page 9 page 10 page 11 page 13 page 15 page 17 page 20 page 21 page 22 page 24 page 25 page 26 page 27 page 28 page 29 page 30 page 32 page 32 page 65 page 66 page 66 page 67 page 68 page 68 page 69 page 70 page 71 page 72 page 72 page 72 page 72 page 73 page 73 page 74 page 74 page 75 page 75 page 77 page 80 page 80

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5-02. TETRAZIDE Isocyanogen tetraazide page 82 5-03. TAEN Triazoethanol nitrate page 83 TAEN dynamite composition page 84 5-04. AZIDOETHYL Tris(2-azidoethyl)amine page 84 5-05. DANP 1,3-Diazido-2-nitrazapropane page 86 DANP explosive composition page 88 5-06. DIANP 1,5-diazido-3-nitraza pentane page 89 DIANP propellant page 90 5-07. Diazodinitrophenol 4,6,-Dinitro-2-diazophenol page 91 5-08. HNTCAB Hexanitrotetrachloroazobenzene; 2,4,6,2',4',6'-Hexanitro-3,5,3',5'tetrachloroazobenzene page 94 5-09. DNAT 1,1'-dinitro-3,3'-azo-1,2,4-triazole page 96 5-10. ADNB 4-Azido-4,4-dintro-1-butyl acetate page 98 5-11. ADBN. 4-Azido-4,4-dintro-1-butyl nitrate page 100 Chapter 6: The preparation of aza/oxa nitramines page 103 6-01. TNTC. 2,4,6-trinitro-2,4,6-triazacyclohexanone page 103 Azadine explosive composition page 105 TNTC plastic explosive page 105 6-02. DDD. 5,7-dinitro-5,7-diaza-1,3-dioxabicyclo[3:3:0] octan-2-one page 105 DDD composition page 107 6-03. TEX. 4,10-dinitro-2,6,8-12-tetraoxa-4,10-diazatetracyclo[5.5.0.05,903,11]-dodecane page 107 6-04. DNFA-P. 1,4-dinitrofurazano[3,4-b]piperazine page 110 Chapter 7: The preparation of cyclic nitramines page 113 7-01. RDX. Cyclonite; Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine; 1,3,5-trinitrohexahydro-s-triazine; cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine page 113 Composition B page 118 RDX explosive composition page 119 PBX explosive composition page 119 RDX high performance rocket propellant page 119 C3 plastic explosive page 120 C4 plastic explosive page 120 RDX explosive munitions page 121 7-02. Solex. 1-(N)-acetyl-3,5,7-trinitro-cyclotetramethylene Tetramine page 123 Solex explosive composition page 124 7-03. HMX. Octogen; 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7tetraazacyclooctane; alpha-HMX and beta-HMX page 124 HMX gun propellant page 128 HMX explosive page 128 HMX plastic explosive page 128 PBX B HMX explosive composition page 129 HMX explosive page 129 7-04. NINHT. 2-nitroimino-5-nitro-hexahydro-1,3,5-triazine page 129 7-05. TNAD. 1,4,5,8-Tetranitro-1,4,5,8-tetraazadecalin page 131 7-06. DPT. 1,5-methylene-3,7-dinitro-1,3,5,7tetraazacyclooctane page 134 Chapter 8: The preparation of nitramines page 136 8-01. DITN. Diisopropylamine trinitrate page 136 8-02. DMMD. 2,4-dinitro-2,4-diazapentane page 137 8-03. Tetryl. Nitramine; N-methyl-N,2,4,6tetranitrobenzenamine page 139 Tetry explosive booster compostion page 141 8-04. MNA. Methylnitramine page 141 8-05. Methylene dinitramine page 144 8-06. HNIW. 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-

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Hexaazaisowurtzitane page 146 Chapter 9: The preparation of nitramines page 151 9-01. ADN. Ammonium dinitramide page 151 9-02. KDN. Potassium dinitramide page 154 Chapter 10: The preparation of amino nitro benzenes page 158 10-01.Tetraniline. Tetranitro aniline page 158 Tetraniline explosive page 160 10-02. TATB. 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene page 160 RDX/TATB booster composition page 164 TAT TATB/TNT explosive composition page 164 10-03. DATB. 1,3-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene page 165 10-04. DATBA. 5-Carboxy-1,3-diamino-2,4,6trinitrobenzene page 167 10-05. A-NPNT. 4-amino-N,2,3,5,6-pentanitrotoluene page 169 10-06. UDTNB. 5-ureido-1,3-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene page 171 10-07. DNPU. 2,4-dinitrophenylurea page 174 10-08. ADNBF. 7-amino-4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan page 176 10-09. TNPU. N,N'-bis(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)urea page 177 Chapter 11: The preparation of nitro benzenes page 180 11-01. TNT. 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; trinitrotoluene page 180 Composition A1 page 185 TNT blasting composition page 186 TNT wax composition page 186 Hexotonal RDX/TNT explosive composition page 187 Octol explosive composition page 187 TNT explosive munitions page 187 11-02. F-TNB. 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene page 188 11-03. TCTNB. Trichlorotrinitrobenzene; 1,3,5-trichloro-2,4,6Trinitrobenzene page 190 11-04. Picryl Chloride. 1-chloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene page 191 11-05. TNBCl. Trinitrobenzylchloride page 192 Chapter 12: The preparation of poly nitro benzenes page 194 12-01. HNB. Hexanitrobibenzyl; 2,2', 4,4', 6,6'hexanitrobibenzyl page 194 12-02. HNS. Hexanitrostilbene page 195 12-03. TNTPB. 1,3,5-trinitro-2,4,6-tripicrylbenzene page 198 12-04. PNT. 2,3,4,5,6-pentanitrotoluene page 200 12-05. HNBP. Hexanitrobiphenyl page 202 12-06. Hexaditon. 2,2',4,4',6,6'-hexanitrodiphenylmethane page 203 12-07. TNN. Nitronaphthalene; 1,3,6,8-tetranitronaphthalene page 205 Chapter 13: The preparation of nitrate esters page 209 13-01. EDT. N,N'-di-(2-ethanol)ethylenediamine tetranitrate page 209 13-02. Nitrocellulose. Nitrated cellulose; Gun cotton page 212 Gun propellant page 219 Gun propellant page 219 Smokeless powder page 219 Blasting powder page 220 Blasting powder page 220 13-03. ETN. Erythritol tetranitrate page 220 13-04. PEN. Pentaerythritol trinitrate page 221 13-05. PETN. Pentaerythritol tetranitrate; 2,2-Bis[(nitrooxy)methyl]-1,3-propanediol dinitrate page 225 Blasting explosive page 229 PETN bonded explosive page 229 PETN propellant charge page 229 Pentolite PETN composition page 229 Semtex PETN explosive page 229 PETN explosive munitions page 230 13-06. NQ. Nitroglycerine page 230

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HESP high-energy smokeless powder Dynamite 13-07. Nitro starch. Nitrated cornstarch Nitro starch explosive composition 13-08. EGDN. Ethylene glycol dinitrate 13-09. Metriol. 13-10. Nitropropylene. PGDN. Propylene glycol dinitrate Chapter 14: The preparation of polyhydric nitrate esters 14-01. Hexanitrate. Sorbitol hexanitrate 14-02. Quebrachitol nitrate. Monomethyl cyclohexanepentanitrate 14-03. Inositol nitrate. Inositol hexanitrate 14-04. MGP. N-Methyl gluconamide pentanitrate 14-05. MON. Maltose octanitrate 14-06. MX. Nitromannite; 14-07. PVN. Polyvinylnitrate Chapter 15: The preparation of nitrate ester nitramines 15-01. NMHAN. N-Nitro-N-methylhydroxy acetamidenitrate 15-02. DINA. Dinitroxydiethylnitramine 15-03. DNAN. Dinitroxydiethylamine nitrate 15-04. NENA. N-(2-Nitroxyethyl)nitramine 15-05. Silver NENA. N-(2-Nitroxyethyl) nitramine, silver salt Chapter 16: The preparation of nitro triazoles 16-01. NTA. 3,5-Dintro-1,2,4-triazole 16-02. MNTA. 1-Methyl-3,5-dinitro-1,2,4-triazole 16-03. CDNTA. 3,5-Dinitro-1,2,4-triazole-copper salt 16-04. NTO. 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one 16-05. 5-NDTT. 5-nitro-2(3,5-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)1,2,4-triazole Chapter 17: The preparation of nitro tetrazoles 17-01. SATP. di-Silver aminotetrazole perchlorate 17-02. CNTA. Copper salt of 5-nitrotetrazole CNTA priming mixture 17-03. HGNTA. Mercury nitrotetrazole HGNTA priming mixture 17-04. LNTA. Lead nitrotetrazole, basic salt 17-05. TADA. 5,5'-bi-1H-tetrazole diammonium salt Chapter 18: The preparation of nitro phenyls 18-01. TPG. 2,4,6-trinitrophloroglucinol 18-02. DNP. 2,4-Dinitrophenol Phenolene explosive composition 18-03. DNR. 4,6-dinitroresorcinol 18-04. Picric Acid. 2,4,6-trinitrophenol Pentotal explosive composition 18-05. Styphnic Acid. 2,4,6-trinitro-1,3-benzenediol 18-06. Picramic acid. 2-amino-4,6-dinitrophenol 18-07. Methylpicric acid. 2,4,6-trinitro-3-methylphenol Explosive composition 18-08. TA. Trinitroanisole Chapter 19: The preparation of nitro phenyl salts 19-01. Lead-TNP. Trinitrophloroglucinol lead salt Lead-TNP ignition/initiating mixture 19-02. Barium Styphnate 19-03. Lead Styphnate. 2,4,6-trinitro-lead-II-resorcinate 19-04. Ammonium Picramate. Ammonium 2-amino-4,6dinitrophenolate; Ammonium-2-amino-4,6-dinitropicrate 19-05. AP. Ammonium Picrate 19-06. Lead Picrate. 2,4,6-Trinitro-lead-phenolate basic

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Lead pircrate initiating mixture page 312 19-07. Sodium picramate. Ammonium 2-amino-4,6dinitrophenolate; Ammonium-2-amino-4,6-dinitropicrate page 313 Chapter 20: The preparation of nitrates, chlorates, and perchlorates page 315 20-01. AN. Ammonium Nitrate page 315 AN/Aluminum blasting prill page 317 Blasting composition page 317 ANFO page 317 ANFO B page 317 AN black powder page 318 AN explosive munitions page 318 20-02. AC. Ammonium chlorate page 319 20-03. APC. Ammonium perchlorate page 320 Perchlorate high performance rocket propellant page 321 Perchlorate high performance rocket propellant page 321 Perchlorate high performance rocket propellant page 322 20-04. PCB. Perchlorylbenzene page 322 20-05. Nitro-PCB. 3-Nitroperchlorylbenzene page 323 20-06. BDC. Biguanide diperchlorate page 325 20-07. EDDN. Ethylenediamine dinitrate page 326 Chapter 21: The prepartion of paraffins and their derivatives page 328 21-01. Nitroform. Trinitromethane page 328 21-02. HNF. Hydrazine nitroform; Hydrazinium nitroformate page 332 21-03. KNF. Potassium nitroform page 334 21-04. Silver nitroform page 335 21-05. TNM. Tetranitromethane page 336 21-06. TBA. 4,4,4-Trinitrobutyraldehyde page 340 21-07. TNB. 4,4,4-Trinitro-1-butanol page 341 21-08. 4,4-DNB. 4,4-Dintro-1-butanol page 343 21-09. HNH-3. 1,1,1,6,6,6-Hexanitrohexyne-3 page 344 21-10. TNP. 1,1,1,2-Tetranitropropane page 346 21-11. TNEN. 2,2,2-Trinitroethyl-2-nitroxyethyl ether page 347 21-12. NTND. 2-Methyl-2-(N-nitro-N-trinitroethylamino)-1,3propyl dinitrate page 352 Chapter 22: Miscellaneous page 355 22-01. TNA. 1,3,5,7-Tetranitroadamantane page 355 22-02. TND. 1,4,6,9-Tetranitrodimantane page 358 22-03. Nitroguanidine page 361 22-04. NU. Nitrourea page 362 22-05. Acetone-P; Acetone peroxide page 363 22-06. Tetracene. Tetrazene page 265 References page 367

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