US2430239A

US2430239A - Pentaerythrite tetranitrate explosive

Info

Publication number: US2430239A
Application number: US439767A
Authority: US
Inventors: Muller Hans
Original assignee: Schweiz Sprengstoff-Fabrik AG
Current assignee: Schweiz Sprengstoff-Fabrik AG
Priority date: 1941-02-13
Filing date: 1942-04-20
Publication date: 1947-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1964-11-04

Description

Patented Nov. 4, 1947 PENTAERYTHRITE TETRANITRATE EXPLOSIVE Hans Miiller, Othmarsingen,

Switzerland, as-

signor to Schweiz. SprengstoH-FabrilrA.-G., Dottikon, Switzerland No Drawing. Application April 20, 1942, Serial No. 439,767. In Switzerland February 13, 1941 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an explosive of high brisance or explosive power, and more particularly to a pentaerythrite-tetranitrate explosive. Lately, nitropentaerythrite has obtained an increased importance asexplosive for military purposes. use by itself owing to high shock sensitiveness and lack of security against firing strokes. Various trials have been made already to overcome these drawbacks and additions, composed principally of trinitrotoluene and tetraacetate of pentaerythrite have been proposed. Existing publications also deal with the general use of aromatic nitro compounds for phlegmatisation of the nitropentaerythrite. For example, a mixture of 50% nitropentaerythrite and 50% trotyl (trinitrotoluene) result in the explosive known as pentryl. Until now trinitrotoluene obviously has been used in pure condition only. The term "phlegmatising agent is used in this specification to indicate substances acting to decrease the shock sensitiveness of the explosive.

Experiments which I have made, show that crude nitrotoluene owing to its content of dinitrotoluene, as well as pentaerythrite-stearate constitute excellent phlegmatising agents for nitropentaerythrite.

The object of the present invention is to provide a high brisant, low shock-sensitive explosive, particularly for military purposes, on the base of pentaerythrite-tetranitrate, comprising a phlegmatising agent. According to the invention this is constituted by a pentaerythrite-stearate, preferably the tetrastearate. Also crude trinitrotoluene may be added.

It is already known to use tetraacetate of pentaerythrite for this purpose, but this substance has the disadvantage of considerably reducing the explosive power, since a great proportion of the substance must be added in order to obtain the required phlegmatising action. The following table gives data indicating the efliciency of a few phlegmatising agents:

The pentaerythrite-stearate has hitherto not This substancehowever is unsuitable for been used as phlegmatising agent for nitropentaerythrite. It has the surprising advantage of a high phlegmatising action, which is 86 times greater than that of trinitrotoluene, 46 times greater than that of dinitrotoluene, and 5.7 times greater than that of pentaerythrite-tetraacetate. The combined use of crude trinitrotoluene and pentaerythrite-stearate results in a surprising increase of the phlegmatising action and provides the possibility to obtain explosive mixtures capable of being cast and pressed. The melting temperature of the castable mixtures is between and C.

If desired it is also possible to replace trinitrotoluene by dinitrobenzene. It is also possible to replace the whole part of trinitrotoluene by dinitrobenzene.

In order to, save costs it is also possible to replace the pentaerythrite stearate up to 95% by parafiin without deterioration of the good quality of the explosive.

EXAMPLES 1. Mixtures capable of being pressed only Per cent (a) Nitropentaerythrite 92 95 Pentaerythrite-stearate 8 5 (b) Nitropentaerythrite 65 -75 Crude trinitrotoluene 34.5-24.0 Pentaerythrite-stearate 0.5- 1.0

2. Mixtures capable of being pressed and cast Percent Nitropentaerythrite 40 -6() Crude trinitrotoluene 39.9-39.0 Pentaerythrite-stearate 0.1- 1.0

Further mixtures are:

Percent Pentaerythrite-tetranitrate 30 60 Dinitrobenzene 69.9-39 Pentaerythrite-stearate 0.1 1.0

Pentaerythrite-tetranitrate Mixture of pentaerythrite-stearate with paraffin 1:1 l0 5 While the invention has been described in connection with some specific examples of my improved explosive, it is obvious that modifications may be made in the particular composition of the mixtures without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A high brisant explosive of decreased shock sensitiveness, comprising a mixture of tetranitrate of pentaerythrite and at least 0.1% of a stearate of pentaerythrite as a phlegmatizing agent.

2. A high brisant explosive of decreased shock sensitiveness, comprising a mixture of tetranitrate of pentaerythrite and at least 0.1% of a tetrastearate of pentaerythrite as a phlegmatizing agent.

3. A high brisant explosive of decreased shock sensitiveness, comprising a mixture of tetranitrate of pentaerythrite, crude trinitrotoluene, and at least 0.1% of a stearate of pentaerythrite as a phlegmatizing agent.

4. A high brisant, low shock-sensitive explosive comprising a mixture of tetranitrate of pentaerythrite with phlegmatising agents composed of about five to ten per cent of a mixture of pentaerythrite-stearate and parafiin in substantially a 1:1 ratio.

5. A high brisant, low shock-sensitive explosive comprising a mixture of tetranitrate of pentaerythrite with a phlegmatizing agent composed of about five to ten per cent of a mixture of a tetrastearate of pentaerythrite and paraflin in substantially a 1:1 ratio.

6. A high brisant, low shock-sensitive explosive comprising a mixture of tetranitrate of pentaerythrite, and phlegmatizing agents composed of about 0.1 per cent to 1.0% of stearate of pentaerythrite and about 39 to 69.9 per cent of dinitrobenzene.

HANS MtiLLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS