Everything about Petn totally explained
PETN (
pentaerythritol tetranitrate, also known as
pentrite, or rarely and primarily in German as
nitropenta) is one of the most powerful
high explosives known, with a
relative effectiveness factor (R.E. factor) of 1.66. It is more sensitive to shock or friction than
TNT or
tetryl, and it's never used alone as a
booster. It is primarily used in booster and bursting charges of small
caliber ammunition, in upper charges of
detonators in some
land mines and shells, and as the explosive core of
detonation cord.
PETN is also used as a
vasodilator, similar to
nitroglycerin. The
medicine for
heart diseases "
Lentonitrat" is pure PETN.
Properties
The velocity of
detonation of PETN at a density of 1.7 g/cm³ is 8,400 meters per second. The heat of explosion is 5,862 kilojoules per kilogram, or 1.4 times that of
TNT.
PETN's formula is C(CH
2ONO
2)
4. Its theoretical maximum crystal density is 1.773 g/cm³. It melts at 141 °C.
As a pollutant in the environment
PETN doesn't occur naturally, so the production of this kind of compound without detonation may lead to contamination of the environment. PETN is subject to
biodegradation in untreated or unpreserved urine and feces. There also have been some reports of its degradation by
bacteria, whose PETN reductase denitrates PETN into trinitrates and then dinitrates (French et al., 1996). The last compound shown in the pathway, pentaerythritol dinitrate, is degraded further to unknown products.
Production
PETN's preparation involves the nitration of
pentaerythritol with a mixture of concentrated
nitric and
sulfuric acid. The preferred method of nitration is the ICI method, which utilizes concentrated nitric acid (98%+) alone, as mixed acid can create unstable sulfonated by-products.
C(CH
2OH)
4 + 4HNO
3 → C(CH
2ONO
2)
4 + 4H
2O
History
Penthrite was first synthesized in
1891 by
Tollens and
Wiegand by nitration of
pentaerythritol. In 1912, after being patented by the German government, the production of PETN started. PETN was used by the German army in
World War I. PETN is also one of the ingredients in
Semtex plastic explosive.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Petn'.
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