The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives - Sciencemadness Dot Org

TETRYL 175
TNA shows about the same sensitivity as tetryl in the drop
test. Lead block experiments have been reported which showed
that 10 grams of TNA produced a net expansion of 430 cc, TNT
254 cc, picric acid 297 cc, tetryl 375 cc, guncotton 290 cc, and
75 per cent dynamite 300 cc. 76 Experiments with the manometric
bomb gave the results indicated below.
DENSITY or PRESSURE: KILOS PEE
LOADING SQUARE CENTIMETER
TNA 0.20 2356
TNA 0.25 3110
Tetryl 0.20 2423
Tetryl 0.25 3243
Since these data show that tetryl is slightly more powerful than
TNA, the superiority of TNA in the lead block test must be
interpreted as indicating that TNA has the higher velocity of
detonation.
Tetryl (tetralite, pyronite)
Tetryl or 2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine was first described
by Michler and Meyer 77 in 1879, and was studied soon
thereafter by van Romburgh 78 and by Mertens. 79 Van Romburgh
proved its structure by synthesizing it from picry] chloride and
potassium methylnitramine.
.CH, CH3 NO,
fa K|NC
NOs NO»Y VNO,
NO, NO,
In the early literature of the subject, and to some extent at present,
the substance is wrongly designated as tetranitromethylaniline.
It results from the nitration of monomethyl- and of
76 From the pamphlet "Tetra-Nitro-Aniline 'Flurscheim,' " Verona Chemical
Company, sole licensed manufacturers for the United States, North
Newark, New Jersey, 1917(?), p. 4. Giua, op. (At., p. 317, states that the
force of TNA measured in the lead block is 420 compared with picric
acid 297.
77 Ber., 12, 1792 (1879).
78 flee, trav. chim., 2, 108 (1883); 8, 215 (1889).
Ber., 19,2126(1886).