Untitled - Sciencemadness Dot Org

2. MANUFACTURE AND PROCUREMENT
HMX
2.1 Manufacture. A modified Bachmann batch process is used to produce
HMX. Solutions of hexamine in acetic acid and ammonium nitrate in nitric acid
are added to a base of acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and paraformaldehyde. A first
period of continuous addition is followed by 15 minutes of aging, and a second
period of continuous addition is followed by 1 hour of aging. Then the reaction mix-
ture is diluted with hot water and heated to boiling to destroy all linear compounds.
Cooling, filtering, and water washing complete preparation of the product. The
crude HMX is purified by recrystallization from acetone solution to give a final
product that is up to 99% beta HMX.
2.2 Procurement. HMX is purchased from the US Army Armament Readiness
Command under Military Specification MIL-H-45448, Amendment 1, dated July
15.1975.
2.3 Shipping.2 HMX is shipped as a Class A explosive and must be shipped wet
with not less than 10% water.
2.4 Storage.* HMX may be stored dry in Compatibility Group A or wet in Com-
patibility Group D. Either wet or dry, it is in Storage Class 1.1.
3. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
3.1 Structural Formula.
43