BDNPF

melting point ? °C	boiling point ? °C	BDNPF	molecular mass ? g/mol	density ? g/mL
table key	sensitivity ?	chemical formula X₂Y₃Z₄	explosive velocity ? m/s	estimated cost $?.00 /g

BDNPF, an acronym for bis(dinitropropyl) formal, is an energetic plasticizer or binder. BDNPA is also called 1,1'-[methylenebis(oxy)]bis[2,2-dinitro-propane; bis(2,2-dinitropropoxy)-methane; and bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) formal. While not an explosive itself, BDNPF is one of several of a new class of materials designed to replace inert plasticizers with energetic ones. BDNPF finds use as in propellants, plastic explosives, and in gas generating systems like airbags. BDNPF will add extra energy to any explosive or propellant, whereas the traditional binders are inert thus sapping explosive energy. BDNPF is often mixed with its close counterpart BDNPA.

CHEMICALS APPARATUS

---- ----

---- ----

---- ----

---- ----
---- ----

Prepare a mixture of 15 g of 2,2-dinitropropanol and 3.0 g of s-trioxane in 13 mL of methylene chloride. Cool this mixture to 0 C in an ice bath and slowly add, with stirring, 15 g of 98% sulfuric acid over a period of 2 hours. The rate of addition is controlled such that the temperature of the reaction mixture never rises above 5 C. Continue stirring the mixture for 30 minutes after the addition is complete. Quench the reaction mixture with an excess of water and extract it with three 45 mL portions of methylene chloride. The combined extract is washed with four portions of 130 mL of 5% sodium hydroxide solution and two portions of 130 mL of saturated sodium chloride solution. The washed organic portion is dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and then filtered to remove the drying agent. The filtrate is concentrated under partial vacuum and by gentle heating at 60 C. After several hours all of the solvent is removed and BDNPF remains. Yield is around 13.7 g or 93%. Synthesis 2: Into a small Erlenmeyer flask prepare a mixture of 3.62 g of trinitroethanol in 5 mL of 96% sulfuric. Gently heat and swirl this mixture to facilitate complete solution. Let the mixture cool to room temperature and add 0.30 g of paraformaldehyde. Stir the mixture for 30 minutes, and then pour it into a beaker containing crushed ice. After the ice melts the remaining liquid is filtered to collect the precipitate of BDNPF, washed with water, and allowed to dry. Yield is about 3.4 g or 90%.

Sources