PETN

chembox
ImageFile=PETN.svg
ImageSize=
IUPACName=
OtherNames=
Section1=Chembox Identifiers
CASNo=78-11-5
PubChem=6518
SMILES=C(C(CO [N+] (=O) [O-] )(CO [N+] (=O) [O-] )CO [N+] (=O) [O-] )O [N+] (=O) [O-]
Section2=Chembox Properties
Formula=C₅H₈N₄O₁₂
MolarMass=316.137 g/mol
Appearance=
Density=1.77 g/cm³ at 20 °C
MeltingPtC=141.3
BoilingPt=
Solubility=
Section3 = Chembox Explosive
ShockSens = Medium
FrictionSens = Medium
ExplosiveV = 8400 m/s
REFactor = 1.66
Section4=Chembox Hazards
MainHazards=
FlashPt=
Autoignition=190 °C

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN, also known as "pentrite", or rarely and primarily in German as "nitropenta") is one of the most powerful high explosives known, with a relative effectiveness factor (R.E. factor) of 1.66.

Uses

The most obvious use of PETN is as an explosive. It is more sensitive to shock or friction than TNT or tetryl, and it is never used alone as a booster. It is primarily used in booster and bursting charges of small caliber ammunition, in upper charges of detonators in some land mines and shells, and as the explosive core of detonation cord.Fact|date=May 2008

Apart from this, PETN is used as a vasodilator, similar to nitroglycerin. A medicine for heart disease, "Lentonitrat", is nearly pure PETN. [cite journal|title = The therapeutic role of coronary vasodilators: glyceryl trinitrate, isosorbide dinitrate, and pentaerythritol tetranitrate. | author = Russek H. I.| journal =American Journal of Medical Science| volume = 252| issue = 1| pages = 9–20|year = 1966| pmid = 4957459 | doi = 10.1097/00000441-196607000-00002 ]

Production

PETN's preparation involves the nitration of pentaerythritol with a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acid. The preferred method of nitration is the ICI method, which utilizes concentrated nitric acid (98%+) alone, as mixed acid can create unstable sulfonated by-products.

C(CH₂OH)₄ + 4HNO₃ → C(CH₂ONO₂)₄ + 4H₂O

History

Penthrite was first synthesized in 1891 by Tollens and Wiegand by nitration of pentaerythritol. In 1912, after being patented by the German government, the production of PETN started. PETN was used by the German army in World War I. [cite book|title = Die Schiess- und Sprengstoffe | author = Stettbacher, Alfred| 2. völlig umgearb. Aufl.
place = Leipzig |publisher= Barth|year = 1933| pages= 459 ] PETN is also one of the ingredients in Semtex plastic explosive. PETN was the explosive chosen by Richard Reid, which could have been used to blow up a 767 traveling from Paris to Miami if he wasn't stopped first.

ee also

*Pentolite
*Semtex
*RDX
*TNT

References

* Cooper, Paul W., "Explosives Engineering", New York: Wiley-VCH, 1996. ISBN 0-471-18636-8

External links

* [http://www.prvaiskra-namenska.co.yu/eng/eksplozivi.html Prva Iskra Namenska AD (Serbia)]