Trotyl - what is this? Composition and power of matter

Today, a large number of various explosives are provided to the services of mankind. Among them, a special place is occupied by TNT. This chemical compound is very popular in those areas where dismantling of a metal, concrete or brick structure is required. This explosive is considered to be the main ammunition for the army.

When was TNT obtained?

The formula of trinitrotoluene (C ₆ H ₂ (NO ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ) was deduced in 1963. The founder of this explosive is the German chemist Julius Vilbrand. Since 1891, industrial production of TNT has been set up. In 1902, the German and American armies in munitions equipment replaced picric acid with TNT. Okhtinsky plant of Russia, using German technology, in 1909 also began the industrial manufacture of this explosive. Developed petrochemical industry has become an impetus for the mass production of TNT.

Titles

Trotyl is an explosive (explosive), which is also called:

• Trinitrotoluene;
• Thick;
• Trinitic;
• Nitrotol.

Explosive mixture is designated by abbreviations:

• TNT;
• TNT;
• T.

What is a substance?

Trotyl is a product formed as a result of the chemical reaction of nitric and sulfuric acids with toluene. In the usual state, TNT is a solid crystalline substance of yellow color, which is able to melt at + 81 ° C, and at +310 ° C ignite. Trotil is insensitive to mechanical action. Trinitrotoluene is dissolved with pyridine, acetone and chloroform.

Trinitrotoluene has all the properties of an antibiotic. It was used in medicine as an antifungal agent. As a result of high toxicity, TNT was replaced by other more effective medicines.

States

Trotyl is an explosive, which can be in four states:

• Scaled.
• Powdery. Characterized by high sensitivity to external influences, primarily to the fire.
• Pressed or cast. Can burn with a yellowish fire. Without the presence of a standard fuse or a capsule detonator does not explode. Characterized by high sensitivity to detonation.
• Fused. As in the scaly, for this state of TNT, there is a low susceptibility to detonation. To work fused trinitrotoluene, it is necessary to have intermediate detonators. For this purpose, compressed trotyl is ideal.

How is the product produced?

The scaled form is characteristic of the newly manufactured explosive.

The procedure for the production of TNT proceeds in two stages:

• Treatment of toluene. After the nitration reaction of nitric, sulfuric acids and toluene, small particles are formed in the form of light yellow flakes, which subsequently are subject to various mechanical effects. In this process, sulfuric acid is used as a water-removing agent.
• Nitration with oleum reacts with mono- and dinitrotoluene. In the second stage oleum acts as a water-removing agent. Excess acids are often used in the initial stage of the production of TNT.

As a result of treatment, TNT from the scaly state passes into a fused, compressed or powdered one.

Description

• Trinitrotoluene is characterized by a weak sensitivity to external mechanical influences: impacts, bullet bullets, sparks, friction.
• Immune to chemical influences.
• A kilogram of TNT is capable of securing 1010 kcal of energy.
• With a standard detonator capsule, TNT reacts at a speed of 6,900 meters per second.
• Trinitrotoluene does not react with wood, plastics, concrete, brick.
• Insoluble in water.
• After prolonged heating, wetting in water and melting, TNT is able to maintain its explosive properties.
• Tends to darken as a result of sunlight.
• It is able to burn as a result of exposure to an open source of fire. At the same time, TNT burns with a yellowish flame, emitting soot.
• Trotyl can remain in working condition even after long-term storage. Different conditions of detention (water, land or ammunition body) do not affect the explosive properties of trinitrotoluene.

What kind of explosives can join?

Trotil can be used both in pure form and in mixture with other explosives. Among them the most common are:

• Hexogen;
• Tetril;
• Teng;
• Ammonia-nitrate explosives.

The addition of TNT to hexogen, tetril and tethene results in a decrease in their explosive properties. After the addition of TNT to amine-selitic explosives, an increase in their chemical resistance and a decrease in hygroscopicity are observed.

Application of industrial explosive

Careers and mines are the main places of use of explosives. Predominantly for such situations, explosives are manufactured directly on site. The composition of trotyl prepared for mining includes the following components:

• Granulated ammonium nitrate;
• Diesel fuel: 3%;
• Coal powder: 5%.

A prerequisite is the presence of scaled TNT (8%). This three-component composition of TNT guarantees high effectiveness of detonation. The use of this explosive does not harm the environment.

How does it explode?

Trotting after detonation leaves a chance to survive only to those who are far from the epicenter of the explosion. When trinitrotoluene is activated, a large amount of energy is released, which grows into the main damaging factor BB - the shock wave. During a terrorist attack, apart from her, the filling of an explosive device is considered dangerous . The defective elements for this purpose are nails, nuts, bolts and pieces of reinforcement.

To determine the explosion power, the TNT equivalent is used: the energy released by the explosive explosives is equal to its mass. The detonated kilogram of TNT produces enough energy to kill a person from the epicenter at a distance of three meters. In the explosion, 4.19x106 J. is allocated. In safety, he can be at a distance of 15 meters. The ton of TNT releases 4.19x109 J of energy.

Where is the substance used today?

In addition to mining, trinitrotoluene found its application in the army. This explosive in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is equipped with shells, missiles, mortar bombs, bombs, engineering mines and landmines. For their equipment, the TNT equivalent is used. In cases involving nuclear weapons, calculations are made in kilograms and tons. Ready-made parameters are used for munitions equipment:

• For hand grenades is calculated from 75 to 400 grams of TNT;
• For antitank grenades there is one and a half kilograms;
• For equipment of mines goes from 4 to 7 kg of explosives;
• One bomb contains 5 tons of TNT;
• A sea mine - from 50 to 300 kg.

The trotyl charges are enhanced by the use of metallic sawdust from hexogen or hexogen with aluminum.

How is it stored?

The trotyl is stored in the pressed state in special cylindrical or rectangular checkers. Outside for trinitrotoluene paraffin wrapping paper with special nests for detonator capsules is provided.

Today, in addition to TNT, more powerful explosives have been created for explosive charges. Despite this, trinitrotoluene remains still in demand both in mining and in the military.