R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

259 Polyvinyl Nitrate
PPG serves as a prepolymer, which reacts with diisocyanates as
curing agents to form polyurethanes used as a binder in W Composite
Propellants
Polyvinyl Nitrate
Polyvinylnitrat; nitrate de polyvinyle; PVN
yellowish-white powder
empirical formula of the structure unit: C2H3NO3
molecular weight of the structure unit: 89.05
average molecular weight: 200000
energy of formation: –252.1 kcal/kg = –1054.8 kJ/kg
enthalpy of formation: –275.4 kcal/kg = –1152.1 kJ/kg
oxygen balance: – 44.9%
nitrogen content: depends on nitration grade
volume of explosion gases: 958 l/kg
heat of explosion
(H2O liq.): 1143 kcal/kg = 4781 kJ/kg
(H2O gas): 1073 kcal/kg = 4490 kJ/kg
specific energy: 129 mt/kg = 1269 kJ/kg
density: 1.6 g/cm3 softening point: 30– 40 °C = 86–104 °F
detonation velocity:
7000 m/s = 23000ft/s at r = 1.5 g/cm3 deflagration point: 175 °C = 350 °F
impact sensitivity: 1.0 kpm = 10 Nm
friction sensitivity: at 20 kp = 196 N
pistil load reaction
critical diameter of steel sleeve test: 8 mm
Polyvinyl nitrate is prepared by esterification of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
using nitric acid or a nitrating mixture. Depending on the degree of
saponification of polyvinyl alcohol, which is prepared from polyvinyl
acetate, the products have varying nitrogen contents and rheological
properties, depending on the manufacturing conditions manufacture
and the degree of polymerization. PVN is a thermoplastic, macromolecular
substance, with a softening zone which varies between 30
and 45 °C, depending on the molecular weight of the starting polyvinyl
alcohol. Polyvinyl Nitrate is used in a plasticizer for TNT charges called
X28M, which is a solution of 22% PVN in 78% mononitrotoluene
MNT.