Pellets of unknown material contained in an aluminium cylinder were found in the north area of the Asiago plateau (Vicenza), a locality of the First World War (1914‐1918). Elemental analysis, infrared, chromatography and NMR experiments indicate that the main product is pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). This substance was probably an igniting primer used by Austro‐Hungarian (A.U.) military engineering. Hypothesis of medical use of the pellets can be disregarded while it seems improbable the use of this explosive by German Army during the Second War World.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.