The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives - Sciencemadness Dot Org

CYANURIC TRIAZIDE 433
The best results are secured if pure and finely powdered cyanuric
chloride is used, yielding small crystals of pure cyanuric triazide
in the first instance, in such manner that no recrystallization,
which might convert them into large and more sensitive crystals,
is necessary. Cyanuric chloride, m.p. 146°, b.p. 190°, is prepared
by passing a stream of chlorine into a solution of hydrocyanic
acid in ether or chloroform or into liquid anhydrous hydrocyanic
acid exposed to sunlight. It is also formed by distilling cyanuric
acid with phosphorus pentachloride and by the polymerization of
cyanogen chloride, Cl—CN, after keeping in a sealed tube.
Cyanuric triazide is insoluble in water, slightly soluble in cold
alcohol, and readily soluble in acetone, benzene, chloroform,
ether, and hot alcohol. It melts at 94°, and decomposes when
heated above 100°. It may decompose completely without detonation
if it is heated slowly, but it detonates immediately from
flame or from sudden heating. The melted material dissolves
TNT and other aromatic nitro compounds. Small crystals of
cyanuric triazide are more sensitive than small crystals of mercury
fulminate, and have exploded while being pressed into a
detonator capsule. Large crystals from fusion or from recrystallization
have detonated when broken by the pressure of a rubber
policeman. 43
Cyanuric triazide is not irritating to the skin, and has no poisonous
effects on rats and guinea pigs in fairly large doses. 43
Taylor and Rinkenbach have reported sand test data which
show that cyanuric triazide is much more brisant than mercury
fulminate. 43
WEIGHT OF EXPLOSIVE, WEIGHT OP SAND CRUSHED (GRAMS) BY
GRAMS Cyamiric Triazide Mercury Fulminate
0.050 2.6
0.100 4.8
0500 12.2 3.8
0.400 33.2 122
0.600 54.4 20.1
0.800 68.9 282
1.000 78.6 36.8
In conformity with these results are the findings of Kast and
Haid who reported that cyanuric triazide has a higher velocity of
detonation than mercury fulminate. They made their measure-
43 Taylor and Rinkenbach, loc. cit.T footnote 42.