Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1.2 Properties of common combustible agents [
1
]
Compounds
/g cm
−
3
M
t
θ
m
/
°
C
θ
b
/
°
C
ρ
OB
×
100
H
f,m
/
kJ mol
−
1
△
Nitromethane
61.04
101.2
−
28.6
1.14
−
39.3
−
113.1
Nitroethane
75.07
114.0
90
1.05
95.9
134.7
−
−
−
Nitropropane
89.09
131.6
108
1.03
134.8
167.6
−
−
−
Toluene
92.3
110.6
−
90
0.866
−
313.0
12.0
Nitrotoluene
(industry)
137.1
220
10.5
1.16
180.9
25.1
-
−
−
−
240
2,4-dinitrotoluene
182.1
304
71
1.33
114.4
68.23
−
−
2,6-dinitrotoluene
182.1
290
65.5
1.33
−
114.4
−
43.92
Hydrazine
32.05
113.5
1.54
1.004
−
99.9
50.42
Hydrazine hydrate
50.05
118.5
40
1.048
64
242.5
−
−
−
To form a relative stable homogeneous system with nitric acid is the primary
requirement to prepare combustible agents of nitric acid-based liquid explosives.
There is a great deal of combustible agents meeting the requirement. Performance
tests of nitric acid mixture with one or more of those combustible agents, including
nitrobenzene, ortho-nitroethylbenzene, para-nitrochlorobenzene, gasoline, diesel,
aviation kerosene, toluene, xylene, methanol, pyridine, and ethylene dichloride,
were carried out. Most of liquid explosives prepared by nitric acid and those
combustible agents mixed based on oxygen balance exhibited a certain explosive
property, especially for those liquid explosives prepared from nitro compounds.
After comprehensive consideration about all aspects of detonation property, raw
material resources, economical ef
ciency, and performance stability, toluene is
chosen as the combustible material by many people.
The molecular weight of toluene (C
6
H
5
CH
3
) is 92. Its melting point is
95
°
C
−
and boiling point is 110.8
C. It occurs as a volatile and sweet odorous liquid that is
insoluble in water and soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether, and acetone. The speci
°
c
gravity for toluene is 0.866, the formation heat is
12.01 kJ/mol, and the oxygen
−
balance is
3.13 g/g. The chemical property of toluene is similar with benzene. The
mixture of toluene vapor and air is explosive with explosion limit of 1.2
−
7.0 % (v/
v). Based on its sources, toluene can be divided into coal-based toluene, petroleum-
based toluene, and synthesized toluene. The
-
first two sources, which are of
industrial grade with toluene content of over 98 %, are usually used to prepare
liquid explosives. The common combustible agents for liquid explosives are listed
in Table
1.2
.
1.3.3 Additives
Under the different requirements of denotation performance, additives are used to
modify liquid explosives. Additives mainly include sensitizers to improve initiation
