Trimethylolethane trinitrate (TMETN), also known as metriol trinitrate (METN, MTN, METRTN) or nitropentaglycerin, is a
nitrate ester. It is a
high explosive
An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An ...
similar to
nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin (NG), (alternative spelling of nitroglycerine) also known as trinitroglycerin (TNG), nitro, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), or 1,2,3-trinitroxypropane, is a dense, colorless, oily, explosive liquid most commonly produced by nitrating g ...
. It is a transparent oily liquid, colorless to light brown. It is odorless. It is used in some
solid propellant
A propellant (or propellent) is a mass that is expelled or expanded in such a way as to create a thrust or other motive force in accordance with Newton's third law of motion, and "propel" a vehicle, projectile, or fluid payload. In vehicles, the e ...
s and
smokeless powder
Finnish smokeless powderSmokeless powder is a type of propellant used in firearms and artillery that produces less smoke and less fouling when fired compared to gunpowder ("black powder"). The combustion products are mainly gaseous, compared t ...
s as a
plasticizer
A plasticizer ( UK: plasticiser) is a substance that is added to a material to make it softer and more flexible, to increase its plasticity, to decrease its viscosity, and/or to decrease friction during its handling in manufacture.
Plasticiz ...
. Its chemical formula is .
TMETN was first prepared and patented in Italy under name Metriolo. Germans began producing it before World War II, when it was demonstrated to be an erosion and flash-reducing agent in smokeless powders. It is a liquid explosive with properties similar to nitroglycerin, but more stable to heat. It is prepared by
nitration
In organic chemistry, nitration is a general class of chemical processes for the introduction of a nitro group into an organic compound. The term also is applied incorrectly to the different process of forming nitrate esters between alcohols an ...
of
trimethylolethane (metriol). It does not induce headaches.
TMETN can be initiated by friction, impact, and electrostatic discharge. It can be used as a high-viscosity plasticizer-binder together with
nitrocellulose
Nitrocellulose (also known as cellulose nitrate, flash paper, flash cotton, guncotton, pyroxylin and flash string, depending on form) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to a mixture of nitric acid and ...
, but its poor colloidal properties has made such use rare. Long-term milling can however assist here; success can also be achieved by adding an inert plasticizer and a volatile solvent/colloidal agent.
TMETN is miscible with ether and acetone. It is insoluble in 95% sulfuric acid. It can be used as a plasticizer together with, or as an alternative to,
triethyleneglycol dinitrate (TEGDN). It can also be used as a
monopropellant
Monopropellants are propellants consisting of chemicals that release energy through exothermic chemical decomposition. The molecular bond energy of the monopropellant is released usually through use of a catalyst. This can be contrasted with bipro ...
; in fact
triethylene glycol dinitrate,
diethylene glycol dinitrate
Diethylene glycol dinitrate (DEGDN) is an explosive nitration, nitrated Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol ester with the formula C4H8N2O7. While chemically similar to numerous other high explosives, pure diethylene glycol dinitrate is difficult to ig ...
, and trimethyloleate trinitrate are being considered as replacements for nitroglycerin in propellants.
References
{{reflist
External links
MSDS
Nitrate esters
Explosive chemicals
Liquid explosives
Monopropellants
Plasticizers