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HMX*
1. GENERAL PROPERTIES
1.1 Chemical and Physical Description. HMX, an explosive similar to RDX,
was a byproduct in the production of RDX by the process that W. E. Bachmann
and J. E. Sheehan developed. It has a higher density and much higher melting
point than RDX. It was named HMX for High Melting explosive.
HMX, C,H,N,O,, is a colorless polycrystalline material. It is also known as’
octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine, cyclotetramethylene- tetrani-
tramine, and Octogen.
1.2 Common Use. Because of its higher density, HMX has replaced RDX in ex-
plosive applications for which energy and volume are important. It is used in
castable TNT-based binary explosives called Octols; as the main ingredient in
high-performance plastic-bonded explosives, and in high-performance solid
propellants.
1.3 Toxicity.’ The suggested maximum concentration of HMX in air is 1.5
mg/ma.
*Unless otherwise specified, the properties listed are for the 0 polymorph.
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