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R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

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95 Diethyleneglycol Dinitrate<br />

Diethyleneglycol dinitrate, like nitroglycerine, is prepared by nitrating<br />

diethylene glycol with mixed acid in batches or continuously. The<br />

diglycol is produced by synthesis. Since the waste acid is unstable,<br />

special formulations of mixed acid must be employed, and the mixed<br />

acid must be denitrated at the end of the nitration stage.<br />

Diglycol dinitrate was used extensively in the Second World War by the<br />

German side as one of the main components of W Double Base<br />

Propellants. The explosion heat of diglycol in powder form can be kept<br />

lower than the heats of the corresponding nitroglycerine powders; they<br />

represented the first step towards the so-called cold powders. Diglycol<br />

dinitrate and triglycol dinitrate are also employed in double base rocket<br />

propellants.<br />

Specifications for diethyleneglycol as a nitration raw material<br />

clear, colorless liquid<br />

density (20/4): 1.1157–1.1165 g/cm3 reaction: neutral<br />

boiling analysis<br />

241 °C = 466°F<br />

beginning, fifth drop:<br />

not below<br />

distillation at: 246.5 °C = 475.5°F<br />

the end: not above 250 °C = 482°F<br />

moisture: not more than 0.5%<br />

glow residue: not more than 0.02%<br />

acidity as H2SO4:<br />

0.01%<br />

not more than<br />

chlorides: traces only<br />

saponification number: not above 0.02%<br />

reducing substance<br />

none<br />

(test with ammoniacal solution<br />

of AgNO3):<br />

viscosity at 20 °C = 68°F 35.7 cP<br />

An additional specification was required in Germany:<br />

content of (mono-) ethyleneglycol:<br />

not more than 2%<br />

determination: 4 cm3 diethyleneglycol and 4 cm3 NaOH<br />

solution (which contains 370 g NaOH per liter) are mixed<br />

and cooled, and 2 cm3 of copper sulfate solution (which<br />

contains 200 g CuSO4·5 H2O per liter) is added and<br />

shaken. The color is compared with the color obtained by<br />

standard mixtures of pure diethyleneglycol with 0.5, 1.5<br />

and 2% ethyleneglycol after the same reaction.

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