Characterization of Erythritol Tetranitrate Physical Properties

Abstract

and Ondřej Vodochodský [a] 1I ntroduction Erythritol tetranitrate (ETN) is as imple nitrate ester structurally similar to nitroglycerine (see Scheme 1). This ester of nitric acid was first synthesized in 1849 by Stenhouse [1]. Although it is as tructurally simple and easily synthesized powerful explosive, only af ew authors have paid attention to it as an explosive in the past. The main reason was the high cost caused by limited availability of erythritol (ETN precursor), which was obtained by costly extraction from seaweed, algae, or lichen [2].L ater,p roduction of erythritol via acetylene chemistry did not significantly change anything;t he price of ETN was still too high for industrial use [3].H owever new technology for erythritol production using microbial methods from osmophilic yeasts has been developed recently [4].T he price of erythritol has been significantly reduced and its technological accessibility is no longer al imitation.Unfortunately,t he properties of ETN are described only briefly in scientific literature [3,[5][6][7].R esearch into the fundamental parameters of this explosive is therefore important. There have been plenty of articles concerning the medical effects and uses of erythritol tetranitrate (it is used as an effective cardiovascular medicine [5]), but only af ew remarks have appeared in tertiary literature about its explosive properties. The subject was addressed three years ago by Oxley et al. [8],w ho published some analytical data for ETN, along with certain physical and explosive properties. The thermal behavior and decomposition kinetics of pure ETN and its mixtures with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and hexogen (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane, RDX) have also been published recently [9].W ed ecided to study fundamental physical characteristics of this nitrate ester that, according to our best information, have not been published to date. The results of our research are summarized in this article. 2E xperimental SectionCaution: Erythritol tetranitratei sapowerful explosive, sensitive to external stimuli. Itss ensitivity to friction andimpactis on thel evel of PETN.T he standard safety procedures for preparationand handling of explosives must be used.Abstract:T he article describes the molecular structure and fundamental physical properties of erythritol tetranitrate (ETN). Although ETN is simple nitrate ester this explosive is described in the literature relatively briefly.T he molecular structure of ETN was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of the ETN molecule is composed of the central carbohydrate chain and two pairs of facing coplanar ONO 2 groups. The crystal density of ETN is 1.827 gcm À3 .I ti sanon-hygroscopic compound. Solubility in water was determined in at emperature range from 5 8C to 80 8C. ETN is slightly soluble in water;s olubility at 20 8C is on the same level as that of PETN.

Explosive Properties of Melt Cast Erythritol Tetranitrate (ETN)

“…The ETN was recrystallized from ethanol and resulted in a crystalline powder consisting of needle-like crystals of average length 230 μm and a length to width ratio of 6.5. The product analysis, yield, crystal size and shape of ETN have already been described in detail in our previous work [1]. Melt-cast ETN samples were prepared in the form of small pellets by dropping molten ETN onto a cold tile -the appearance of the samples is shown in Figure 1.…”

“…explosive [1], the high cost of erythritol, a necessary starting material for ETN, being one of the main reasons for this lack of interest. Early books in the field of explosives simply mention its basic explosive parameters [2][3][4].…”

“…Manner et al [7] focused on analytical data and the influence of crystal morphology on the sensitivity of ETN to mechanical stimuli. Our research group investigated the fundamental physical properties of ETN [1] and recently some analytical properties of ETN [8].…”

Blast Waves and Fragment Velocities of Erythritol Tetranitrate

“…Erythritol tetranitrate (ETN) (Figure ) is a simple nitrate ester that was first prepared in 1949 by Stenhouse , although it has not been investigated as an explosive until recently. There is increasing concern that ETN will become a common home‐made explosive (HME) owing to its relatively easy synthesis and the increased availability of erythritol, the starting material for ETN . ETN is more sensitive than penta‐erythritol tetranitrate (PETN), but less sensitive than nitroglycerin .…”

“…ETN is more sensitive than penta‐erythritol tetranitrate (PETN), but less sensitive than nitroglycerin . The high sensitivity of ETN means that it must be handled with the utmost care . The crystal structure, physical and chemical properties of ETN have been reported recently, and its similarity to PETN was highlighted , although they have different melting points and oxygen balances .…”