Trinitrotoluene - Applications

Applications

TNT is one of the most commonly used explosives for military and industrial applications. It is valued partly because of its insensitivity to shock and friction, which reduces the risk of accidental detonation, compared to other more sensitive high explosives such as nitroglycerin. TNT melts at 80 °C (176 °F), far below the temperature at which it will spontaneously detonate, allowing it to be poured as well as safely combined with other explosives. TNT neither absorbs nor dissolves in water, which allows it to be used effectively in wet environments. Additionally, it is stable compared to other high explosives.

Although blocks of TNT are available in various sizes (e.g. 250 g, 500 g, 1,000 g ), it is more commonly encountered in synergistic explosive blends comprising a variable percentage of TNT plus other ingredients. Examples of explosive blends containing TNT include:

• Amatex: (ammonium nitrate and RDX)
• Amatol:(ammonium nitrate )
• Ammonal: (ammonium nitrate and aluminium powder plus sometimes charcoal).
• Baratol: ( barium nitrate and wax )
• Composition B ( RDX and paraffin wax )
• Composition H6
• Cyclotol (RDX)
• Ednatol
• Hexanite (hexanitrodiphenylamine ).
• Minol
• Octol
• Pentolite
• Picratol
• Tetrytol
• Torpex
• Tritonal