TMETN

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

THIS EXPLOSIVE IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE CHEMLAB, ADD THIS INFO See metriol trinitrate TMETN, an acronym for 1,1,1-trimethylolethane trinitrate, is a high explosive ester with properties similar to that of nitroglycerin. TMETN is commonly called metriol trinitrate, but other names include 2-methyl-2-[(nitrooxy)methyl]-1,3-propanediol dinitrate ester; 2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol trinitrate; 2-methyl-2-nitro-oxymethyltrimethylene dinitrate; tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane trinitrate; nitropentaglycerin; Mertiolo; and MTN. TMETN was first developed by the Italians in the 1920’s. It is quite similar to nitroglycerin in that it can be mixed with powered or liquid products, or gelled to form dynamite. It is quite impact sensitive, like nitroglycerin, but it is more stable to heat. TMETN is often used in admixture with other explosives for use in blasting or as a propellant.

CHEMICALS APPARATUS

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Synthesis x: Since TMETN is often mixed with other explosive materials this particular synthesis involves a way of conitrating an additional material, triethylene glycol, to make triethylene glycol dinitrate (TEGDN). Prepare a mixture of 258 g of trimethylolethane, 104 g of triethylene glycol, and 117 mL of water; the mixture should be warmed to 51 C. Prepare a second mixture of (by weight) 50% nitric acid and 50% sulfuric acid totaling 1733 g. The acid should be 98-100% concentration and should be cooled to 0 C in an ice bath. Mix the acid very slowly and with cooling as it will produce substantial heat. With vigorous stirring slowly add the glycol mixture to the acid at such a rate as to keep the temperature between 0 C and 20 C. It is important to keep the temperature below 20 C, if it rises above 25 C the explosive products will decompose. Continue stirring for 10 minutes after the addition is complete, and then stop stirring to allow the layers to separate. The oily (top) layer of product can be decanted from the (lower) acid layer and added to a beaker. Wash the product by stirring with 500 mL of water for 30 minutes followed by removal of the water, and then stir the product with 500 mL of 10% sodium carbonate solution for 1 hour. Again remove the aqueous layer to obtain an acid free mixture of TEGDN and TMETN. Final yield is a little over 600 g. It is possible to recycle the spend acids by distilling off the nitric acid at low pressure, and then heating the sulfuric acid at a high temperature to drive off the water. Only a small amount of final product remains in the acid mixture which is decomposed upon heating and the byproducts are removed when the sulfuric acid is boiled. Synthesis x: Since TMETN is often mixed with other explosive materials this particular synthesis involves a way of conitrating an additional material, diethylene glycol, to make diethylene glycol dinitrate (DEGDN). Prepare 1000 g of an acid mixture consisting of 48.65% sulfuric acid and 54.13% nitric acid. The percentages are by weight and the extra amounts are in the form of fuming material; either sulfur trioxide or nitrogen dioxide. Prepare a second mixture of 154 g of trimethylolethane and 76 g of diethylene glycol in 41 mL of water. Cool both of the solutions to 0 C, and keep the acid mixture in an ice bath. Very slowly, with stirring, add the glycol solution to the acid while maintaining the temperature between 0 C and 7 C throughout the reaction. After the addition is complete continue stirring the 0-7 C reaction mixture for 83 minutes. Stop stirring and cooling the reaction mixture to allow it to separate into distinct layers over a 15 minute period. The oily (top) layer of product can be decanted from the (lower) acid layer and added to a beaker. Wash the product by stirring with 500 mL of water for 30 minutes followed by removal of the water, and then stir the product with 500 mL of 2% sodium carbonate solution for 1 hour. Again remove the aqueous layer to obtain an acid free mixture of DEGDN and TMETN. Final yield is a little under 440 g. It is possible to recycle the spend acids by distilling off the nitric acid at low pressure, and then heating the sulfuric acid at a high temperature to drive off the water. Only a small amount of final product remains in the acid mixture which is decomposed upon heating and the byproducts are removed when the sulfuric acid is boiled.

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