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TATB
1. GENERAL PROPERTIES
1.1 Chemical and Physical Description. TATB (1,3,5-trinitrobenzene),
C8HBN808, is a yellow polycrystalline material. Exposure to sunlight or UV light
turns it light green, and prolonged exposure eventually turns it dark brown to black,
1.2 Common Use. The excellent thermal stability and extreme resistance to ac-
cidental initiation by impact or shock make TATB useful for special applications.
To be used effectively, it is generally coated with a thermoplastic polymer and
pressed into desired shapes.
1.3 Toxicity. The maximum permissible concentration of TATB in air is 1.5
mg/ms. It was not mutagenic when tested in five strains of Salmonella typhimurium
and in Escherichia coli strain WP.
2. MANUFACTURE AND PROCUREMENT
2.1 Manufacture.’ TATB is synthesized by reacting 1,3,5,-trichlorobenzene with
SO, (30% oleum) and sodium nitrate to give 1,3,5-trichloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene.
The reaction mixture is then quenched in a large volume of ice, and the 1,3,5,-
trichloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene is recovered by filtration and reacted with ammonia
gas in the presence of toluene to give TATB.
2.2 Procurement. There is no dedicated DOD or DOE facility for TATB
manufacture. It can be procured, on special order, from a few chemical companies
in the United States which have facilities for synthesizing energetic materials. The
DOE procures TATB under LASL material specification 13Y-188025, dated August
23, 1978.
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2.3 Shipping.2 TATB is shipped dry or wet as a Class A explosive.