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2. MANUFACTURE AND PROCUREMENT
PETN
2.1 Manufacture.a Acetaldehyde, aldol, or crotonaldehyde is condensed with
formaldehyde in aqueous solution, in the presence of lime, to form pentaerythritol,
which is nitrated with 96% nitric acid at 22-23°C to give PETN. The PETN is
filtered, washed with water, and recrystallized from acetone by running acetone
solution into water.
2.2 Procurement. Purchase is under Military Specification MIL-P-387B, dated
November 7,1967.
2.3 Shipping.’ Bulk PETN is shipped by common carrier as a Class A explosive.
It must be shipped wet with at least 40 wt% water.
2.4 Storage.6 PETN is stored wet in Compatibility Group D. In certain condi-
tions, it may be stored dry in Compatibility Group A. Wet or dry, PETN is in
Storage Class 1.1.
3. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
3.1 Structural Formula.
02N-0-CH2-d-CH,-O-NO,
I
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