R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

Tetranitromethane
melting point: 296 °C = 565 °F
heat of explosion (H2O liq.): 821 kcal/kg = 3433 kJ/kg
Tetranitrocarbazole is insoluble in water, ether, alcohol, and carbon
tetrachloride, and is readily soluble in benzene. It is not hygroscopic.
It is prepared by the nitration of carbazole; preparation begins with
sulfuric acid treatment until the compound becomes fully soluble in
water, after which the sulfonic acid derivative is directly converted to
the nitro compound by adding mixed acid without previous isolation.
Tetranitromethane
Tetranitromethan; tétranitrométhane; TNM
colorless liquid with a pungent smell
empirical formula: CN4O8
molecular weight: 196.0
energy of formation: +65.0 kcal/kg = +272.1 kJ/kg
enthalpy of formation: +46.9 kcal/kg = +196.4 kJ/kg
oxygen balance: +49.0%
nitrogen content: 28.59%
volume of explosion gases: 685 l/kg
heat of explosion*): 526 kcal/kg = 2200 kJ/kg
specific energy: 69.1 mt/kg = 677 kJ/kg
density: 1.6377 g/cm 3
solidification point: 13.75 °C = 56.75 °F
boiling point: 126 °C = 259 °F vapor pressure
Pressure Temperature
millibar °C °F
12 20 68
57 50 122
420 100 212
1010 126 259 (boiling
point)
detonation velocity, confined:
6360 m/s = 20900 ft/s at r = 1.637 g/cm 3
308
* The presence of small amounts of impurities may easily increase the experimental
value to above 1000 kcal/kg.