R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

Mesa Burning
Mercury fulminate is prepared by dissolving mercury in nitric acid,
after which the solution is poured into 95% ethanol. After a short time,
vigorous gas evolution takes place and crystals are formed. When the
reaction is complete, the crystals are filtered by suction and washed
until neutral. The mercury fulminate product is obtained as small,
brown to grey pyramid-shaped crystals; the color is caused by the
presence of colloidal mercury.
If small amounts of copper and hydrochloric acid are added to the
reaction mixture, a white product is obtained. Mercury fulminate is
stored under water. It is dried at 40 °C shortly before use. Owing to its
excellent priming power, its high brisance, and to the fact that it can
easily be detonated, mercury fulminate was the initial explosive most
frequently used prior to the appearance of lead azide. It was used in
compressed form in the manufacture of blasting caps and percussion
caps. The material, the shells, and the caps are made of copper.
Mesa Burning
Mesa-Abbrand
W Burning Rate.
Metadinitrobenzene
m-Dinitrobenzol; métadinitrobenzéne
pale yellow needles
empirical formula: C6H4N2O4
molecular weight: 168.1
energy of formation: –21.1 kcal/kg = –88.1 kJ/kg
enthalpy of formation: –38.7 kcal/kg = –161.8 kJ/kg
oxygen balance: –95.2%
nitrogen content: 16.67 %
volume of explosion gases: 907 l/kg
heat of explosion
(H2O liq.): 637 kcal/kg = 2666 kJ/kg
(H2O gas): 633 kcal/kg = 2646 kJ/kg
specific energy: 79.7 mt/kg = 781 kJ/kg
density: 1.5 g/cm 3
solidification point: 89.6 °C = 193.3 °F
lead block test: 242 cm 3 /10 g
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