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| 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane IUPAC name |
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| Chemical formula | C3H6N6O6 |
| Molar mass | 222. IUPAC Nomenclature is a system of naming Chemical compounds and of describing the science of Chemistry in general A chemical formula is a way of expressing information about the Atoms that constitute a particular Chemical compound, and how the relationship between those atoms changes Molar mass, symbol M, is the Mass of one mole of a substance ( Chemical element or Chemical compound) 117 g/mol |
| Shock sensitivity | Low |
| Friction sensitivity | Low |
| Density | 1. For other uses of the words gram or gramme see Gram (disambiguation. The mole (symbol mol) is a unit of Amount of substance: it is an SI base unit, and almost the only unit to be used to measure this Shock sensitivity is a comparative measure of the sensitivity to sudden movement of a Chemical compound, usually of an Explosive. Friction sensitivity is an approximation of the amount of friction or rubbing a compound can withstand before prematurely exploding The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different 82 g/cm³ |
| Explosive velocity | 8,750 metres per second |
| RE factor | 1. For other uses of the words gram or gramme see Gram (disambiguation. A cubic centimetre or cubic centimeter (symbol cm3 —the abbreviation cc, though widely used is deprecated is a commonly used unit of Volume Explosive velocity is the Velocity at which the shockwave front travels through a detonated Explosive. Relative effectiveness factor or RE factor is a measurement of an Explosive 's power for Military Demolitions purposes 60 |
| Melting point | 205. The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to Liquid. 5 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | 234 °C |
| Appearance | colorless crystals |
| CAS number | 121-82-4 |
| UN number | 0072, 0391, 0483 |
| PubChem | 8490 |
| SMILES | C1N(CN(CN1[N+](=O)[O-])[N+](=O)[O-])[N+](=O)[O-] |
Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, also known as RDX, cyclonite, hexogen, and T4, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. The autoignition temperature or kindling point of a substance is the lowest temperature at which it will spontaneously ignite in a normal atmosphere without an external The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for Chemical compounds Polymers biological sequences mixtures and Alloys They are also referred to UN numbers or UN IDs are four-digit numbers that identify Hazardous substances, and articles (such as explosives flammable liquids toxic substances etc List of UN Numbers UN 0001 to UN 0100 List of UN Numbers UN 0301 to UN 0400 List of UN Numbers UN 0401 to UN 0500 PubChem is a Database of chemical Molecules The system is maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI a component An explosive material is a material that either is chemically or otherwise Energetically unstable or produces a sudden expansion of the material usually accompanied Nitroamines are Organic compounds that contain the nitroamino Functional group, R2N-NO2 Nomenclature variants include cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine and cyclotrimethylene trinitramine.
In its pure, synthesized state RDX is a white, crystalline solid. As an explosive it is usually used in mixtures with other explosives and plasticizers, phlegmatizers or desensitizers. Plasticizers are additives that increase the Plasticity or Fluidity of the material to which they are added these include plastics cement concrete wallboard and Phlegmatized is a term applied to an Explosive that has had an agent added to stabilize or desensitize it It is stable in storage and is considered one of the most powerful and brisant of the military high explosives. Brisance is a measure of the rapidity with which an Explosive develops its maximum Pressure. [1]
RDX forms the base for a number of common military explosives: Composition A (wax-coated, granular explosive consisting of RDX and plasticizing wax), composition A5 (mixed with 1. 5% stearic acid), Composition B (castable mixtures of RDX and TNT), Composition C (a plastic demolition explosive consisting of RDX, other explosives, and plasticizers), Composition D, HBX (castable mixtures of RDX, TNT, powdered aluminium, and D-2 wax with calcium chloride), H-6, and C4. Stearic acid (first syllable rhymes with either bear or gear) ( IUPAC Systematic name: octadecanoic acid) is a saturated Composition B is an Explosive consisting of castable mixtures of RDX and TNT as well as in some instances additional desensitizing agents Trinitrotoluene ( TNT) is a Chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO23CH3 Composition C is a Plastic explosive consisting of RDX, other explosives and plasticizer For WebSideStory's HBX tool see WebSideStory. HBX is a family of binary Explosives that are composed of RDX Wax has traditionally referred to a substance that is secreted by Bees ( Beeswax) and used by them in constructing their Composition H6 is a castable military Explosive compound composed of the following percentages by weight 45% RDX 30% TNT C-4 or Composition C-4 is a common variety of military Plastic explosive.
RDX is also used as a major component of many plastic bonded explosives used in nuclear weapons. A polymer-bonded explosive, also called PBX or plastic-bonded explosive, is an Explosive material in which explosive powder is bound together in a matrix
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Properties
The velocity of detonation of RDX at a density of 1. Explosive velocity is the Velocity at which the shockwave front travels through a detonated Explosive. 76 g/cm³ is 8,750 meters per second.
It is a colourless solid, of maximum theoretical density 1. 82 g/cm³. It is obtained by reacting concentrated nitric acid with hexamine. Nitric acid ( H[[nitrate NO3]] also known as Aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and Hexamine, also called hexamethylenetetramine or methenamine ( INN) is a heterocyclic Organic compound that can be prepared by the reaction
- (CH2)6N4 + 4HNO3 → (CH2-N-NO2)3 + 3HCHO + NH4+ + NO3-
It is a heterocycle and has the molecular shape of a ring. It starts to decompose at about 170 °C and melts at 204 °C. Its structural formula is: hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine or (CH2-N-NO2)3.
At room temperature, it is very stable. Room temperature (also referred to as ambient temperature) is a common term to denote a certain Temperature within enclosed space at which humans are accustomed It burns rather than explodes and detonates only with a detonator, being unaffected even by small arms fire. For the Ratt album see Detonator (album A detonator is a device used to trigger an Explosive device. Small arms is a term used by the Armed forces to refer to Infantry Weapons such as the Firearms that an individual soldier can carry It is less sensitive than pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). Pentaerythritol tetranitrate ( PETN, also known as pentrite, or rarely and primarily in German as nitropenta) is one of the most powerful high explosives However, it is very sensitive when crystallized, below −4 °C.
Under normal conditions, RDX has a figure of insensitivity of exactly 80 (as this is the reference point). Figure of Insensitivity (or F of I) is an inverse scale of measure of the impact sensitivity of an explosive substance
RDX sublimates in vacuum, which limits its use in pyrotechnic fasteners for spacecraft. This vacuum means "absence of matter" or "an empty area or space" for the cleaning appliance see Vacuum cleaner. A pyrotechnic fastener (also called an explosive bolt, or pyro, within context is a Fastener, usually a nut or bolt that incorporates a pyrotechnic A spacecraft is a Vehicle or machine designed for Spaceflight.
History
The discovery of RDX dates from 1899 when Hans Henning obtained a German patent for its manufacture, by nitrating hexamethylenetetramine nitrate. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. A patent is a set of Exclusive rights granted by a State to an inventor or his assignee for a fixed period of time in exchange for a disclosure of an [2] In his first patent, he cited its use as a medicine. [2] Its explosive properties were not discovered until 1920s when G. C. V. Herz obtained a British patent in 1921 and a U.S. patent in 1922, for its manufacture by nitrating hexamethylenetetramine. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [2] Later in the 1920s RDX was produced by the direct nitration of hexamine. Nitration is a general Chemical process for the introduction of a nitro group into a Chemical compound. Hexamine, also called hexamethylenetetramine or methenamine ( INN) is a heterocyclic Organic compound that can be prepared by the reaction
RDX was used by both sides in World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
UK and Canadian production
In the United Kingdom RDX was manufactured in pilot plants at the RGPF Waltham Abbey in 1938 and at the Research Department at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey, an Anchor Point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage, (ERIH set in of parkland and containing See also Woolwich Arsenal railway station, Arsenal FC The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, originally known as the Woolwich Warren Woolwich (ˈwʊlɪtʃ or /ˈwʊlɪdʒ/ is a suburb in south-east London, England in the London Borough of Greenwich, on the south side of the River [3] In 1939 a twin-unit industrial-scale plant was designed to be installed at a new 700 acre (283 ha) site, ROF Bridgwater, away from London; and production of RDX started at Bridgwater in 1941. Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF Bridgwater is a factory which produced High explosives for Munitions It is situated between the Villages London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. [3] The United Kingdom attempted to be self-sufficient in the early stages of the war, and at this time the USA was still a neutral country; Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth, was looked upon to supply ammunition and explosives, including RDX. Self-sufficiency refers to the state of not requiring any outside aid support or interaction for survival it is therefore a type of personal or collective autonomy. For other uses of Neutral and Neutrality see Neutral A neutral country takes no side in a War between other parties Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page
A slightly different method of production, but still using hexamine, was found and used in Canada, possibly at the McGill University Department of Chemistry. Urbanski[2] provides details of five methods of production.
USA - Bachmann process
Near the beginning of World War II the US Government turned to Tennessee Eastman Company (TEC), Kingsport, Tennessee, USA, a leading manufacturer of acetic anhydride, to develop a continuous-flow manufacturing process for RDX. Eastman Chemical Company is a United States based Chemical company, engaged in the manufacture and sale of chemicals plastics and fibers Kingsport is a city in Hawkins and Sullivan counties in the U Acetic anhydride is the Chemical compound with the formula (CH3CO2O RDX was crucial to the war effort and the current batch-production process could not keep up. The US began research to safely make large quantities of RDX. Werner Emmanuel Bachmann of the University of Michigan developed the “combination process” which required large quantities of acetic anhydride instead of nitric acid in the old British “Woolwich process”. Werner Emmanuel Bachmann ( November 13, 1901 - March 22, 1951) was a U The University of Michigan Ann Arbor ( U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a top-ranked Coeducational public research In February 1942, TEC built the Wexler Bend pilot plant and began producing small amounts of RDX. This led to the US Government authorizing TEC to design and build Holston Ordnance Works (H. The Holston Army Ammunition Plant, also known as the Holston Ordnance Works was constructed by Tennessee Eastman in Kingsport Tennessee to manufacture explosives O. W. ) in June 1942. By April 1943, RDX was being manufactured there. [4] The US Bachmann process for RDX was found to be richer in HMX than the United Kingdom's RDX. HMX, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive Nitroamine High explosive, chemically related to RDX. This later led to a RDX plant using the Bachmann process being set up at ROF Bridgwater in 1955, to produce both RDX and HMX.
Usage
RDX was widely used during World War II, often in explosive mixtures with TNT such as Torpex. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Trinitrotoluene ( TNT) is a Chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO23CH3 Torpex is a Secondary explosive 50% more powerful than TNT by weight RDX was used in one of the first plastic explosives. Plastic explosive (or the obsolete term plastique) is a specialised form of Explosive material. RDX is believed to have been used in many bomb plots including terrorist plots. It was said to have been used in the Bombay (Mumbai) serial bomb blasts of March 12, 1993 in which more than 300 people were killed and about 1,500 injured. Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Again, on July 11, 2006, a series of powerful explosions took place on seven suburban railway trains on Mumbai's Western Railway line killing 209 and injuring over 700. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The use of RDX by the Islamic terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba in this incident was subsequently confirmed by India's state investigating agencies. It was recently used in the serial Jaipur blasts.
Names
There are many explanations for the name RDX, including (but not limited to) Royal Demolition eXplosive, Research Department (composition) X and Research Department eXplosive. Research Department composition X is most likely correct. [3] In the United Kingdom, new military explosives were given an identification number preceded by the letters 'RD' indicating 'Research Department No. '. [3] For some reason, this explosive was unable to be given a number. Instead, the letter 'X' was appended to indicate 'unknown' with the intention of adding the number later.
The first public reference in the United Kingdom to the name RDX, or R. D. X to use the official title, appears in 1948; its authors were the Managing Chemist, ROF Bridgwater, the Chemical Research and Development Department, Woolwich, and the Director of Royal Ordnance Factories, Explosives; it is referred to as simply RDX. See also Woolwich Arsenal railway station, Arsenal FC The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, originally known as the Woolwich Warren [5]
Davis, writing in the USA in 1943, stated it was generally known in the USA as cyclonite; the Germans called it Hexogen, the Italians T4. [6]
References
Notes
- ^ TM 9-1300-214. US Army.
- ^ a b c d Urbanski (1967) Volume 3
- ^ a b c d Cocroft, Wayne D. (2000). Dangerous Energy: The archaeology of gunpowder and military explosives manufacture. Swindon: [[English Heritage. ISBN 1-85074-718-0.
- ^ WE Bachmann, JC Sheehan (1949). Werner Emmanuel Bachmann ( November 13, 1901 - March 22, 1951) was a U "A New Method of Preparing the High Explosive RDX1". Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1949 (5): 1842-1845. The Journal of the American Chemical Society (usually abbreviated as J
- ^ Simmons (1948), Part II and III.
- ^ Davis (1943) Volume II.
Bibliography
- Cooper, Paul W. (1996). Explosives Engineering. New York: Wiley-VCH. ISBN 0-471-18636-8.
- Davis, Tenney L. (1943). The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives, Volume II. New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- Urbanski, Tadeusz (1967). Chemistry and Technology of Explosives, Vol. III. Warszawa: Polish Scientific Publishers.
- Meyer, Rudolf (1987). Explosives, 3rd Edition. VCH Publishers. ISBN 0-89573-600-4.
- Simmons, W. H. , Forster, A. and Bowden, R. C. , (1948). "The Manufacture of R. D. X. in Great Britain: Part II - Raw Materials and Ancillary Processes", in: The Industrial Chemist, Pages 530 - 545, August 1948.
- Simmons, W. H. , Forster, A. and Bowden, R. C. , (1948). "The Manufacture of R. D. X. in Great Britain: Part III - Production of the Explosive", in: The Industrial Chemist, Pages 593 - 601, September 1948.
- Henning, German Patent 104,280 (1899).
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