Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5.20
Relationship
between of the surface tension
of nitro isobutyl glycerine
trinitrate and temperature [
5
]
56
55
54
53
52
51
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Temperature(°C)
Figure
5.20
shows the linear relationship between the surface tension of nitro
isobutyl glycerine trinitrate and temperature in the range of 20
60
°
C.
-
The freezing point of nitro isobutyl glycerine trinitrate is
−
35
°
C and its viscosity
is very large at 0
C. At the temperature near the freezing point, it is like molten
glass and can be drawn into a wire. Under the freezing point, it becomes hard wax
with similar mechanical property of liquid phase.
The solubility of nitro isobutyl glycerine trinitrate in water is less than that of
nitroglycerine. Its solubility at 20
°
C is 0.081 % and it is mutually soluble to diethyl
ether, acetone, benzene, acetic ether, tetrachlormethane, dichlormethane, nitro-
benzene, and nitrotoluene. Nitro isobutyl glycerine trinitrate can dissolve nitro
aromatics. The property can be used to produce double-base propellants or multi-
base propellants. It is, to some extent, soluble to low nitrogenous cellulose nitrate
(nitrogen content: 11.8
°
12.2 %) for the production of double-base propellants.
Nitro isobutyl glycerine trinitrate is soluble to concentrated sulfuric acid and
dissociated to produce nitric acid. It is sensitive to react with bases as saponi
-
cation
reaction, especially for hydroxides of alkali metals and alkali-earth metals. Nitro
isobutyl glycerine trinitrate can be destroyed by NaOH. In water or dilute acids, it is
dif
cult to be hydrolyzed. However, in dilute base solution, it can be hydrolyzed to
a yellow solution with a hydrolyzation constant of 1.81
×
10
−
3
.
Nitro isobutyl glycerine trinitrate is less thermally stable than nitroglycerine. It
would be slowly decomposed during storage. The decomposition will be acceler-
ated by acids, bases, water, and other impurities, or under heat treatment because of
the self-catalyzed reaction of nitrogen oxide released in the decomposition process.
The molecular structure of asymmetric nitro groups
O
, which in
fl
uence the
N
ʴ
−
C
O
thermal stability of ester groups
, is the main reason of the poor thermal
stability. The curve of thermal decomposition of nitro isobutyl glycerine trinitrate is
shown in Fig.
5.21
.
C
O
N
O
