R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

Methyl Nitrate
incorporation of brisant components. Methylamine nitrate is also employed
as a component in W Slurries.
Methyl Nitrate
Methylnitrat; nitrate de méthyle
CH3-O-NO2
212
colorless volatile liquid
empirical formula: CH3NO3
molecular weight: 77.0
energy of formation: – 456.7 kcal/kg = –1911 kJ/kg
enthalpy of formation:
– 483.6 kcal/kg = –2023.6 kJ/kg
oxygen balance: –10.4%
nitrogen content: 18.19%
volume of explosion gases: 873 l/kg
heat of explosion
(H2O liq.): 1613 kcal/kg = 6748 kJ/kg
(H2O gas): 1446 kcal/kg = 6051 kJ/kg
specific energy: 123 mt/kg = 1210 kJ/kg
density: 1.217 g/cm3 boiling point: 65 °C = 149 °F
lead block test: 610 cm3 detonation velocity, confined:
6300 m/s = 20700 ft/s at r = 1.217 g/cm3 deflagration: evaporation, no deflagration
impact sensitivity: 0.02 kp m = 0.2 N m
friction sensitivity:
up to 36 kp = 353 pistil load no reaction
critical diameter of steel sleeve test: 18 mm
Methyl nitrate is a highly volatile liquid, and its brisance is about equal
to that of nitroglycerine. Its vapors are both flammable and explosive
and produce headaches. Methyl nitrate dissolves nitrocellulose, yielding
a gel, from which it rapidly evaporates.
It can be prepared by introducing methyl alcohol into a nitrating
mixture at a low temperature or by distilling methanol with mediumconcentrated
nitric acid.