Such a device has some application in mining, where the release of gas from. The velocity of detonation of rdx at a density of 1. It seems trivial to put that information in the article. Chemically, it is classified as a nitramide, chemically similar to hmx. Effect of the alo ratio on the al reaction of aluminized. A more energetic explosive than tnt, it was used widely in world war ii and remains common in military applications it is often used in mixtures with other explosives and plasticizers or. This nitrolysis reaction also produces methylene dinitrate not to be confused. Eurenco produces rdx by the woolwich or bachmann process. I t was a secret wartime project, with a code name and an urgent mission. Synthesis of rdx by nitrolysis of hexamethylenetetramine in. Rdx, an initialism for research department explosive, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. Identification of the substancemixture and of the companyundertaking date issued 06. Part of the nato asi series book series asic, volume 309.
Chemically, it is hexahydro1,3,5trinitro1,3,5triazine. Rdx is also known as cyclonite, hexogen particularly in german and germaninfluenced languages, and t4. H6 is a binary explosive that is a mixture of rdx, tnt, powered aluminum, and d2 wax with calcium chloride added. Used in a wide range of compositions, rdx represents the best solution for both performance and cost. In the conventional process for making rdx, hexamethylenetetramine is treated with 98100% nitric acid in the presence or absence of ammonium nitrate nh 4 no. Rather, the intention is to identify wellestablished methods that are used as the standard methods of analysis. Rdx was used in one of the first plastic explosives. Rdx produced by the bachmann process usually contains about 812% hmx as an acceptable byproduct army 1984a, 1989. The false information about rdx the typical kewl scientific language the wrong vod for rdx at the end the bit about ammoniumnitrate. It is more important to include the chemical equation that signifies exploding rdx a chemical reaction. Rdx is a hard, white crystalline solid, insoluble in water and only slightly soluble in some other solvents. It is used in applications such as cast pbx charges for insensitive munitions. Rdx undergoes a deflagration to detonation transition ddt in confinement and certain circumstances. It was synthesized as an explosive more influential than tnt, and it was broadly used in world war ii.
Rdx is vital in the formulations of many wellknown military explosives such as composition a, b and c, ch6, torpex and particularly plastic bonded explosive pbx. 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 cyclotols, which. Explosive thermal decomposition mechanism of rdx the. After rdx detonation, gas products of rdx and metallic substances in mixed explosives are heated to the same temperature. Explosive thermal decomposition mechanism of rdx the journal. Rdx was patented in 1898 by the german chemist georg friederich henning. The ingredients and more significant properties of each explosive are tabulated and briefly discussed. Explosive, royal demolition explosive or royal dutch explosive. It was mixed in a variety of forms under a number of names. Major manufacturing of rdx began in the united states in 1943 during world war ii. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the analytical methods that are available for detecting, measuring, andor monitoring rdx, its metabolites, and other biomarkers of exposure and effect to rdx. The average volume of rdx produced from 1969 to 1971 was 15 million pounds per month. It was developed as an explosive which was more powerful than tnt, and it saw wide use in world war ii. Production of rdx peaked in the 1960s when it was ranked third in explosive.
Iupac nomenclature is a system of naming chemical compounds and of describing the science of chemistry in general. Alow explosive material,suchasgunpowder,smokelesspowderorfireworks,burnsmuch slower. Effect of the alo ratio on the al reaction of aluminized rdx. Information regarding the chemical identity of rdx is located in table 41. The intent is not to provide an exhaustive list of analytical methods. Chemical explosives federation of american scientists. Trace detection of rdx, hmx and petn explosives using a. Eventually, it would be used to blast through the hulls of hitlers uboats, blow gaping holes in enemy dams in the ruhr valley and knock out bridges, railroad tracks and power stations across nazioccupied europe pioneered by chemists in germany in the late 19 th century. Instability is a major characteristic of explosives, which undergo reaction. Is equipped to and capable of handling strong, dangerous acids, 2. The yield of hmx is about 5560%, with rdx as an impurity. Sciencemadness discussion board rdx e method powered.
The superexplosive that helped win world war ii kindle edition by baxter, colin f download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It is often mixed with other substances to decrease its sensitivity. Rdx is used as an explosive and is also used in combination with other ingredients in explosives. K as cyclonite, in germany and russia as hexogen, and in italy as t4. The potential contribution of microbial rdx degradation to. Rdx is produced at military arsenals and is used as an explosive in military munitions and plastic explosives. A veritable mountain of difficulties stood in the way. 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. Data are summarized from various handbooks, textbooks, and manufacturers technical data sheets.
By july 1943 a kingsport, tennessee, plant was manufacturing 170 tons of it per day. C ratio, both of which indicate its explosive potential for formation of n 2 and co 2. Gasphase reactions for selective detection of the explosives tnt. Risk assessment for hexamine nitration into rdx scielo.
It is only after contact with the atmospheric oxygen that can allow complete combustion to occur. Reaction mechanism of 1,3,5trinitrostriazine rdx deciphered by density functional theory. No one knew how much fissionable material had to be put together to support an explosive chain reaction, but it was known that the reaction could not occur if the amountwere insufficient. When this product is exposed to temperature 190f for time 1 hour, coreload pullbackbraid shrinkage can occur i. Rdx was produced in enormous quantities at the government ownedcontractor operated.
With few exceptions, denser explosives give higher detonation velocities and pressures. It is a member of the nitramine class of organic nitrate explosives. Results showed that their sensitivity and safety properties were a function of the specific surface area and proportions of their ingredients. The reaction can be carried out at room temperature in the absence of acetic anhydride and produces smaller amounts of waste acid and nitrate than in traditional process. Rdx is believed to have been used in many bomb plots, including terrorist plots. Rdx, a cyclic nitramine, releases a large amount of energy upon bulk decomposition, making this compound an important ingredient for various propellants and explosive materials. This is the most frequently used explosive and it is prepared by the reaction of toluene c6h5 ch3 and conc. Hmx is currently produced at only one facility in the united states, the holston army ammunition plant in kingsport. A mechanical explosive is one that depends on a physical reaction, such as overloading a container with compressed air. Shock waveinduced phase transition in rdx single crystals. In recent years it has been discovered that a form of the high explosive rdx exists which is identical to conventional rdx grades, with the exception that it is significantly less sensitive to shock stimuli in castcured polymer bonded explosives.
Full blast how the highexplosive known as rdx helped. It is not known whether rdx causes birth defects in humans. It is used as an explosive and is also used in combination with other ingredients in explosives. The three explosives used, rdx, hmx and petn, are white. British chemists toiled with a tripodshaped bond of nitrogen and oxygen molecules linked by carbon and hydrogen they referred to as research department explosive a substance one and.
A new method of preparing the high explosive rdx journal of the. Theory of explosives in general, an explosive has four basic characteristics. Sensitive to percussion, its principal nonmilitary use is in blasting caps. Rdx rdx cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine is second in strength to. Production of rdx peaked in the 1960s when it was ranked third in explosive production by volume in the united states u. Rdx royal demolition explosive, hexahydro1,3,5trinitro1,3,5triazine description rdx concentrations, redox conditions, and hco3 concentrations in the shallow aquifer at site a, operable unit 1, nsb bangor during may 2002. A common example is composite b3 which is made up of a 6436 mixture of rdx c 3 h 6 n 6 o 6 and tnt. In the bachmann process, used in the united states, hexamine is reacted with. Sure it does inrease ob, but its a popular but false assumption that increasing the ob increases the vod. Rdx, known as research department explosive, is a nitramine type explosive so long extensively employed in army and industrial applications. The name rdx stands for research department explosive.
Available in all standard grain sizes, specific grades can also be manufactured on request. Holds a license for the manufacture of explosives, i strongly recommend that you do. Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, also known as rdx, cyclonite, hexogen, and t4, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. Rdx can be used alone or with other explosives, including petn. Explosive reactions there are many chemical reactions that will release energy. Explosive, any substance or device that can be made to produce a volume of rapidly expanding gas in an extremely brief period. Alowexplosivematerial,suchasgunpowder,smokelesspowderorfireworks,burnsmuch slower. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the secret history of rdx. Richard ryan from ratedrr demonstrates the power of rdx and gives a bit of background information on its relation to tnt. For free running explosives, the density is often specified as the pounds of explosives per foot of charge length in a given size borehole. Richard ryan from ratedrr demonstrates the power of rdx and gives a.
Baxter during the early years of world war ii, american ships crossing the atlantic with oil and supplies were virtually defenseless against german uboats. The super explosive that helped win world war ii colin f. The three explosives used, rdx, hmx and petn, are white crystalline powders and their acetonitrile solutions are transparent to visible light, absorbing mainly in the middle ultraviolet muv. Rdx was widely used during world war ii, often in explosive mixtures with tnt such as torpex, composition b, cyclotols, and h6. Density is an important consideration when choosing an explosive. Rdx contamination at cleanup sites or in drinking water supplies. Over the last years the decomposition pathways of this compound have been the focus. Hmx, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive nitroamine high explosive, chemically related to rdx. Nomenclature variants include cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine and cyclotrimethylene trinitramine. Megalomanias method of making rdx rdx melting point 205 c boiling point rdx molecular mass 222. Eurenco also produces a unique quality of insensitive rdx. A potential novel leadfree primary explosive, alfe2o3 rdx hybrid nanocomposite was prepared by ultrasonic mixing, and its safety properties are discussed in detail. Irdx, which brings a significant advantage by reducing shock sensitivity level of rdxbased compositions. 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.
Tnt is an example of a relatively powerful explosive that is oxygen deficient. Rdx is a nitramine produced mainly for use in explosives hsdb 2009. Production, importexport, use, and disposal toxicological. The possible bimolecular reactions between pyrolysis products and hmx are also presented.
Available in all standard grain sizes, rdx is used in a variety of military applications. Rdx became a mainstay in military explosives, almost as much as tnt had been before it. How to make semtex semtex is a powerful explosive that is widely used by terrorists. This was a code name for the explosive known in the u. Fairly common materials always seem to have awsome effects on explosives in the average cookbook.
Synthesis of rdx by nitrolysis of hexamethylenetetramine. In one study, rdx caused liver tumors in mice that were exposed to it in the food. Granular explosive consisting of rdx and plasticizing wax, such as composition a3 91% rdx coated with 9% wax and composition a5 98. For example, semtex is a blend of cyclomethylenetrinitramine rdx and petn. However, production of rdx decreased to a yearly total of 16 million pounds for 1984. Rdx is an organic compound with the formula o2nnch23. Rdx, named hexahydro1,3,5trinitro1,3,5triazine or cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, a high explosive energetic material, plays an important role in defence industry in many countries. It is a white solid without smell or taste, widely used as an explosive. Dec 18, 2017 the explosive compound rdx helped make america a superpower. It is a mix of rdx, dnan, and another insensitive explosive, nmethyl4nitroaniline, called mna. Rdx is believed to have been used in many bomb plots including terrorist plots. Rdx is the base for a number of common military explosives. Rdx, also known as royal demolition explosive, cyclonite, hexogen and t4, is a synthetic product that does not occur naturally in the environment and belongs to a class of compounds known as explosive nitramines atsdr 2012.
Over the last years the decomposition pathways of this compound have been the focus of both experimental and computational studies. If the reaction proceeds slowly, the released energy will be dissipated and there will be few noticeable effects other than an increase in temperature. Analytical methods toxicological profile for rdx ncbi. The sensor reaction of dcm was first characterized in molecular solution, as shown in fig. Green primary explosives have gained wide attention for environmental protection. Navys naval facilities engineering command to evaluate a plume of rdx royal demolition explosive contamination, and to assess the potential for the natural attenuation of rdx at the naval submarine base nsb bangor, washington. Rdx was used with tnt to fill bombs and shells during the second world war by both sides in order to create more powerful weapons. Pax41 was designed as a replacement for cyclotol, a more brisant mix of rdx and tnt than composition b cyclotol has 65% to 85% rdx. Its chemical name is cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to assess. A general theory of explosives is that the detonation of the explosives charge.
A new method of preparing the high explosive rdx journal of. H6 is an australian produced explosive composition used by the military for. To prevent the enemy from learning about the new explosive, shipments of it were labeled as golf balls. Some explosives are mixtures of chemicals that do not react and are known as composites. Rdx or research department explosive, also dubbed torpex, was surprisingly stable yet twice as powerful as tnt.
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid cf 3 cf 2 7 so 3 h, pfos catalyses the highly efficient nitrolysis of hexamethylenetetramine in fluorous media, affording high yield of explosive rdx. Rdx, like tnt, does not have enough oxygen in its molecular formula to completely oxidise everything during an explosion. Rdx, abbreviation of research department explosive or royal demolition explosive, formally cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, also called cyclonite, hexogen, or t 4, powerful explosive, discovered by georg friedrich henning of germany and patented in 1898 but not used until world war ii, when most of the warring powers introduced it. Product identifier product name rdx chemical name cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine reach reg no. Among the most powerful of conventional explosives in general use, rdx, short for royal demolition explosive or research department explosive, is also known as hexogen or cyclonite. Rdx is a manmade chemical not occurring naturally in the environment. For many warheads that energy is stored in the form of chemical explosives. The safety properties of a potential kind of novel.
Is knowledgeable about how to keep the reaction under control, 3. A new method of preparing the high explosive rdx journal. A potential novel leadfree primary explosive, alfe2o3rdx hybrid nanocomposite was prepared by ultrasonic mixing, and its safety properties are discussed in detail. A more energetic explosive than tnt, it was used widely in world war ii and. And the techs tell us it will neutralize the rdx, without tipping off the explosive chick.
573 1445 969 555 206 1641 394 1542 1422 619 233 1231 1263 832 849 1017 1137 1339 1165 457 555 1429 1182 438 442 1018 1183 669 1152