R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

Nitroguanidine; Picrite
is less viscous and gelatinizes nitrocellulose more rapidly than nitroglycerine.
Glycol can be nitrated in the same vessels as glycerin – in batches or
continuously. The same applies to its separation and washing, which
are in fact easier since nitroglycol is less viscous.
Nitroglycol is utilized in mixtures with nitroglycerine, since it markedly
depresses the freezing temperature of the latter compound. Ammongelits
contain only nitroglycol alone as the main explosive component,
and therefore only freeze in winter below –20 °C.
The vapor pressure of nitroglycol is markedly higher than that of
nitroglycerine; for this reason nitroglycol cannot be used in propellant
formulations.
Like all nitrate esters, nitroglycol strongly affects blood circulation; its
maximum permitted concentration at the workplace is 1.5 mg/m3 .
Specifications
nitrogen content: not below 18.30 %
Abel test: not under 15 min
alkali (Na2CO3): for use in industrial explosives no limit
Specifications for glycol (raw material)
net content (determination
by oxidation with
dichromate): at least 98 %
density (20/4): 1.1130–
1.1134 g/cm 3
content of diglycol and triglycol
(residue of vacuum destillation):
not more than 2.5 %
moisture: not more than 0.5 %
glow residue: not more than 0.02 %
chlorides: none
reaction: neutral
reducing components
(test with NH3–AgNO3): none
test nitration: no red fumes,
yield: at least 230 %
Nitroguanidine; Picrite
Nitroguanidin; nitroguanidine; Nigu; NQ
white, fiber-like crystals
empirical formula: CH4N4O2
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