Product identifier product name hmx chemical name 1,3,5,7tetranitro1,3,5,7tetraazacyklooktan reach reg no. Cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine hmx science toys. During the east coast exercise, 66 marines were taken from the u. Results indicate that despite major differences in the binder phase and smaller differences in. The blend of the history of explosives and world history in general would probably be more of interest to a general audience. While this plasticbound explosive has achieved a higher level of stability by separating the cl20 crystals, the power of the explosive is reduced to roughly the hmx level. Production, importexport, use, and disposal toxicological. An explosive charge is a measured quantity of explosive material, which may either be composed solely of one. For free running explosives, the density is often specified as the pounds of explosives per foot of charge length in a given size borehole. Hmx qualities matching the mildtl45444c and stanag 4284 specifications.
Similarly emery and faessler 1997 reported cleanup of tnt, rdx, hmx nitroexplosive mixture at umatilla army depot activity umda near hermiston, oregon, usa, using a composting technique developed by the army environmental centre on a 2700 cubic yard batch 810 cubic yards of soil in 1012 days. Finely ground barium nitrate is added to molten tnt to form a castable. A brief history of explosives in the home science toys. Gel dynamite is very cheap compared to rdx and hmx. Coefficient of thermal expansion of the beta and delta polymorphs of hmx. The sections on nuclear explosives revealed issues to me that were new, as well as being interesting, since i knew the development story but not what the technical issues were. Rprovided larger samples of class 1 and class 5 lx14 hmx for formulation testing to ih, lanl, and atk. It may be found mixed with other explosives, specifically trinitrotoluene tnt and royal demolition explosive rdx.
Chemical decomposition models have been deduced from the available chemical kinetic data on the thermal decomposition of hmx, tatb, rdx, and tnt. A photograph showing increasing levels of fluorescence quenching of the three sets of fluospots upon increasing the amounts of rdx, hmx and petn. Bulk explosives products for the defense, aerospace. You can smell the sulfur, and from the rapid flare of the first strike, you. A series of experiments have been performed to probe the mechanical response of two hmx based plastic bonded explosives to one dimensional shock loading. Ie buying c4 rdx based plastic explosive to blow up stumps and beaver dams, i think someone would check up. The products include pure, desensitized and plastic bonded explosive compositions using hmx, hns, petn, rdx and tnt based explosives.
The books 22 chapters cover specific explosives, uses, or groups of. Pdf biodegradation of the explosives tnt, rdx and hmx. Rdx produced by the bachmann process usually contains about 812% hmx as an acceptable byproduct army 1984a, 1989. When bachmann and sheehan were developing their method of manufacturing rdx, sheehan isolated another explosive compound during the purification process. Hmx and compositions available in all standard grain sizes, hmx is used in a variety of. Identification of the substancemixture and of the companyundertaking date issued 10. I t was a secret wartime project, with a code name and an urgent mission.
Twice as deadly as tnt and overshadowed only by the atomic bomb, this. Predicted data is generated using the us environmental protection agencys episuite. Nov 28, 2009 hmx highmelting explosive was produced as a byproduct of the process and wound up having some unique applications. It is also known as octogen and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine, as. The text on the classification of explosive materials contains much data on the physical parameters of primary and secondary explosives. The heroic age of rdx may have ended in 1945 with its important contribution to the trigger mechanism in the plutonium bomb, but the superexplosive and its derivative, called hmx highmelting explosive, would soon be needed by the united states and its allies. Hmx based compositions available according to nato standard or customertailored specifications. This gives it a lubricating effect lubricity that makes it easy to press into molds while retaining the high density needed for a high explosive. Hmx octahydro1,3,5,7tetranitro1,3,5,7tetrazocine also is known as high melting explosive. The secret history of rdx the university press of kentucky. Rprocesses established for demil of pbx9501, pbxn9, and pbxn110. Popcorn botanical name zea mays everata sturt taste typical odor odourless, no foreign odours color typical, yelloworange typical production area expansion 3840, 4042, 4244, 4446, 4648, mushroom packing paper bags 20kg and 50lb and polypaper bags 20kg and 50lb loading 20 feet. Introduction to explosives for official use only hmx. A new method of preparing the high explosive rdx journal.
It is also used in shaped charges to penetrate armor and defenses, where a less brisant explosive would fail. The history of explosives parallels the history of chemistry for the most part. Dec 18, 2017 i t was a secret wartime project, with a code name and an urgent mission. The heroic age of rdx may have ended in 1945 with its important contribution to the trigger mechanism in the plutonium bomb, but the super explosive and its derivative, called hmx highmelting explosive, would soon be needed by the united states and its allies. Development and characterization, 1888 to 1994, author dobratz, b m, abstractnote assembled in this report are data and references on tatb and its formulations from its first synthesis in 1888 to 1994. About 8% to 10% of the yield from the bachmann rdx production method is hmx. The oral ld 50 of hmx is 1500 mgkg in mice and 300 mgkg in guinea pigs. The text on the classification of explosive materials contains much data on the.
Hmx, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive nitroamine high explosive. As sheehan notes in his query to publishers, because hmx can be eaten without untoward effects, the us developed recipes for edible hmx mixtures the aunt jemima project that could be made into acceptable pancakes and. As the measurements show table 2, the activation energy of hmx, petn and the compositions based on them is a function of temperature. Explosive characteristics of aluminized hmxbased nanocomposites article pdf available in combustion explosion and shock waves 442. C06b high melting explosive hmx is one of the most brisant military explosive and is used extensively in shaped charges, plastic bonded explosives and nitramine based propellants. Marine helicopter squadron1 hmx 1 nighthawks marine helicopter squadron one hmx 1, the nighthwaks, is the only organization responsible for direct helicopter support of the white house. Hmx highmelting explosive was produced as a byproduct of the process and wound up having some unique applications.
Pdf explosive characteristics of aluminized hmxbased. Hmx was initially obtained as an impurity during yield improvement. A general theory of explosives is that the detonation of the explosives charge. Baxter documents the journey of the super explosive. Like rdx, the compounds name is the subject of much speculation, having been variously listed as high melting explosive, her majestys explosive, highvelocity military explosive, or highmolecularweight rdx. The raw materials are mixed in a twostep process and the product is purified by recrystallization. O hmx foi isolado pela primeira vez acidentalmente, em 1940 por w. Density is an important consideration when choosing an explosive. The insensitive high explosive triaminotrinitrobenzene.
British chemists toiled with a tripodshaped bond of nitrogen and oxygen molecules linked by carbon and hydrogen they referred to as research department. From aviation monstrosity to elite, the story of hmx1. Detonation is a process by which the explosive undergoes chemical reaction within a peculiar type of shock wave called the detonation wave. As a military explosive, rdx can be used alone as a base charge for detonators or mixed with another explosive such as tnt to form. This book has largely satisfied a curiosity about what explosives are, why they work, why they are different and who were the inspired discoverers. We have seen these strained bonds in several explosive compounds earlier, in powerful explosives such as cl20, octanitrocubane, and tnaz. Relative change in specific heat, cp, of hmx and rdx with temperature, normalized to ambient temperature value stant pressure increases by 2530% over a similar temperature range. As an explosive, rdx is one and a half times more powerful than tnt and is easily initiated with mercury fulminate. Domestically only manufactured in the holston army ammunition plant in kingsport, tn outside of u. A thermal conduction model is used in which the thermal conductivity of the reacting explosive decreases linearly with the mass fraction reacted to that of the gaseous products.
Hmx, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive nitroamine high explosive, chemically related to rdx. A new method of preparing the high explosive rdx journal of the. In missile warheads, for example, a smaller charge of a more powerful explosive allows the missile to travel faster, or have a longer range. A history of explosives part 2 of 2 linkedin slideshare. From the gasoline explosions that move those oldfashioned nonelectric cars to the match that lights the fire in the fireplace, explosives have been a part of daily life for most of the worlds population for some time. Bulk explosives products for the defense, aerospace, mining. Studies on yield improvement of high melting explosive hmx.
The yield of hmx is about 5560%, with rdx as an impurity. Rdx is a nitramine explosive compound turley and brewster 1987 that can be utilized as a propellant, gunpowder, or high explosive depending on the initiation type boileau et al. With few exceptions, denser explosives give higher detonation velocities and pressures. The addition of an explosive ingredient, such as tnt, in sufficient quantity. It is also known as octogen and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine, as well as. Manganin stress gauges in longitudinal and lateral orientation to the loading axis have been used as the diagnostic. Determination of the explosive hmx in soil coursework. The color can be used to estimat,e the temperature storage history of. Analysis and trends most powerful solid explosive produced on large scale in u. An explosive or explosive material is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. The chemistry, especially the structureproperty relationships discussed and chemical energetics, makes this book a valuable supplementary resource for chemistry classes and pedagogy at advanced high school and college.
White phosphorus will burn in air at room temperature, producing the glow that gives the name to phosphor and phosphorescence, even though today these effects are achieved using much safer molecules. The strength of two hmx based plastic bonded explosives. Common military uses of rdx have been as an ingredient in plastic bonded explosives or plastic explosives, which have been used as explosive fill in almost all types of munition compounds gibbs and popolato 1980. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Pressed composition hmx wax, pbxn3, pbxn5, pbxn9, hmx eurenco co nducts a policy of continual improvement and therefore reserves the right to change any of the data contained herein without no tice. The mixture of chemicals in a kitchen match is in many ways quite similar to black powder. This compilation includes sections on synthesis and preparation. It is more stable than rdx and has an even higher detonation velocity. A new method of preparing the high explosive rdx journal of. How much would 380 tonns of hmx and rdx explosives cost. But buying large amounts or certain kinds can raise flags.
Requalification of demilitarized hmx for doddoe applications. Hmx as a military explosive paperback january 1, 1956 by o. An explosive, octahydro1,3,5,7tetranitro1,3,5,7tetrazocine, related to rdx. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. During operation packard ii, hmx1 accomplished the first shiptoshore helicopter lift in military history and set the tone for future changes in marine corps amphibious assault tactics. Hmx is produced at military arsenals and is used as an explosive in military munitions. High melting explosive hmx is the highestenergy solid explosive produced on a large scale in the united states. Revised and expanded to reflect new developments in the field, this book outlines the basic principles required to understand the chemical processes of explosives. This turned out to be an even more explosive, denser molecule, cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine, now known as hmx. This detonation wave propagates through the explosive, supported and reinforced by the chemical reaction at velocities from about 1600 to 6400 msec, depending on the chemical and physical nature of the. Palau, three at a time, and dropped on onslow beach, camp lejeune, north carolina. Chemicaldecomposition models for the thermal explosion of. Hmx is currently produced at only one facility in the united states, the holston army ammunition plant in kingsport. Common explosives tnt, rdx, hmx and their fate in the.