R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

349 Trinitrobenzoic Acid
lead block test: 325 cm3 /10 g
detonation velocity, confined:
7300 m/s = 23900ft/s at r = 1.71 g/cm3 impact sensitivity: 0.75 kp m = 7.4 N m
friction sensitivity: up to 36 kp = 353 N
pistil load no reaction
Trinitrobenzene is insoluble in water, sparingly soluble in hot alcohol,
and is readily soluble in acetone, ether, and benzene.
Trinitrobenzene is formed by of decarboxylation of trinitrobenzoic acid.
It can also be prepared from trinitrochlorobenzene by reduction with
copper in alcohol. Further nitration of dinitrobenzene also yields trinitrobenzene,
but the reaction must be carried out under very severe
conditions (high SO3-concentration in the mixed acid, high nitration
temperature), and the yields are low.
All the above syntheses are difficult and uneconomical. For this reason,
no practical application has been found, despite the fact that its
strength and detonation velocity are superior to those of TNT, and that
it is very stable.
Specifications
solidification point: not below
moisture, volatile matter:
121 °C = 250 °F
not more than 0.1 %
glow residue: not more than
insoluble in benzene:
0.2 %
not more than 0.2 %
HNO3: not more than traces
sulfate, as N2SO4: not more than 0.02 %
acid, as H2SO4: not more than 0.005 %
alkali:
Abel test 80 °C = 176 °F:
none
not under 30 min
Trinitrobenzoic Acid
Trinitrobenzosäure; acide trinitrobenzoique
yellow needles
empirical formula: C7H3N3O8
molecular weight: 257.1
energy of formation: –358.4 kcal/kg = –1500 kJ/kg