Pentaerythritol tetranitrate
Identifiers
CAS number	78-11-5 Y
PubChem	6518
SMILES	C(C(CO[N+](=O)[O-])(CO[N+](=O)[O-])CO[N+](=O)[O-])O[N+](=O)[O-]
Properties
Molecular formula	C5H8N4O12
Molar mass	316.137 g/mol
Density	1.77 g/cm3 at 20 °C
Melting point	141.3 °C, 414 K, 286 °F
Explosive data
Shock sensitivity	Medium
Friction sensitivity	Medium
Explosive velocity	8400 m/s
RE factor	1.66
Hazards
Autoignition temperature	190 °C
Y (what is this?)  (verify) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN, also known as corpent, pentrite, or rarely and primarily in German as nitropenta or pentrit)^[1], is one of the most powerful high explosives known, with a relative effectiveness factor (R.E. factor) of 1.66.

[edit] Uses

The most obvious use of PETN is as an explosive. It is more sensitive to shock or friction than TNT or tetryl, and it is never used alone as a booster. It is primarily used in booster and bursting charges of small caliber ammunition, in upper charges of detonators in some land mines and shells, and as the explosive core of detonation cord.^[2] Apart from this, PETN is used as a vasodilator, similar to nitroglycerin. A medicine for heart disease, Lentonitrat, is nearly pure PETN.^[3]

[edit] Production

PETN's preparation involves the nitration of pentaerythritol with a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acid. The preferred method of nitration is the ICI method, which utilizes concentrated nitric acid (98%+) alone, as mixed acid can create unstable sulfonated by-products.

C(CH₂OH)₄ + 4HNO₃ → C(CH₂ONO₂)₄ + 4H₂O

[edit] History

Penthrite was first synthesized in 1891 by Tollens and Wiegand by nitration of pentaerythritol. In 1912, after being patented by the German government, the production of PETN started. PETN was used by the German army in World War I. ^[4] PETN is also one of the ingredients in Semtex plastic explosive. PETN was the explosive chosen by Richard Reid for his plot to blow up the Boeing 767 he was traveling in from Paris to Miami. He was stopped just in time however.^[5]

[edit] See also

• Pentolite
• Semtex
• RDX
• TNT

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Cooper, Paul (1997). Explosives Engineering. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. ISBN 0-471-18636-8.