R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

Nitroglycerine
oxygen balance: +3.5%
nitrogen content: 18.50%
volume of explosion gases: 716 l/kg
heat of explosion
(H2O liq.): 1594 kcal/kg = 6671 kJ/kg
(H2O gas): 1485 kcal/kg = 6214 kJ/kg
specific energy: 106.6 mt/kg = 1045 kJ/kg
density: 1.591 g/cm 3
solidification point:
+13.2 °C = 55.8 °F (stable modification)
+2.2 °C = 35.6 °F (unstable modification)
specific heat: 0.32 kcal/kg = 1.3 kJ/kg
vapor pressure:
Pressure Temperature
millibar °C °F
0.00033 20 68
0.0097 50 122
0.13 80 176
0.31 90 194
lead block test: 520 cm 3 /10 g
detonation velocity, confined:
7600 m/s = 25000 ft/s at r = 1.59 g/cm 3
impact sensitivity: 0.02 kp m = 0.2 N m
friction sensitivity:
up to 36 kp = 353 N pistil load no reaction
critical diameter of steel sleeve test: 24 mm
224
Nitroglycerine is almost insoluble in water, but is soluble in most
organic solvents; it is sparingly soluble in carbon disulfide. It readily
dissolves a large number of aromatic nitro compounds and forms gels
with soluble guncotton. Its volatility is negligible, but is still sufficient to
cause headaches.
The acid-free product is very stable, but exceedingly sensitive to
impact. The transportation of nitroglycerine and similar nitrate esters is
permitted only in the form of solutions in non-explosive solvents or as
mixtures with fine-powdered inert materials containing not more than
5% nitroglycerine. To avoid dangers, internal transport within the
factories is made by water injection (W Water-driven Injector Transport).
Transport of pure nitroglycerine and similar products outside
factory premises is difficult; in the U.S., special vessels have been
developed in which the oil is bubble-free covered with water without air
bubbles which raise the impact sensitivity considerably. The nitrogly-