296 CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY OF EXPLOSIVESSome of the eutectic compositions are given in Table 66.
A number of tertnery eutectics containing α− trinitrotoluene have also heen
examined, e.g. a- trinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, p- nitrotoluene, m. p. 16.7°C
(Bell and Herty [44]); α− trinitrotoluene, p- nitrotoluene, o- nitrotoluene, m. p. -
19.5°C (Bell and Spry [56]) ; α− trinitrotoluene, β− trinitrotoluene, γ− trinitrotolu-
ene, m. p. 44.4°C (Gibson, Duckham and Fairbairn [13]) ; α− trinitrotoluene, 2,4-dini-
trotoluene, m- dinitrobenzene, m.p. 29°C (Hrynakowski and Kapuscinski [42]).
Hygroscopicity. α− Trinitrotoluene is practically non-hygroscopic. At room tem-
perature, when exposed to air, saturated with water, it absorbs only 0.05% of water.
Specific gravity and density of loading. The specific gravity of solid α− trinitro
toluene is 1.654-1.663 according to various authors, while that of the molten pro-
duct is 1.467 at 82°C. The density of TNT, compressed under pressures varying
from 1450 to 4350 kg/cm^2 , is 1.54-1.62 g/cm^3 (Kast [57] 1907).
According to Dautriche [58], depending on the pressure applied, the follow-
ing average density of loading can be obtained:pressure, kg/cm^2 Mean density, g/cm^3
215 1.320
685 1.456
1375 1.558
2000 1.584
2750 1.599
3435 1.602
4125 1.610The apparent weight of crystalline α− trinitrotoluene is 0.9.
If molten trinitrotoluene solidifies under pressure, a high specific gravity amount-
ing to 1.62 may be obtained at a low pressure of about 5 kg/cm^2. Zanardi [59]
obtained the following values :Pressure, kg/cm^2 Mean density, g/cm^3
1 1.54
2 1.58
3 1.60
4 1.616
5 1.620According to Kast [57] (1921), the specific gravity of α− trinitrotoluene, when
allowed to solidify slowly after being melted is 1.57. When rapidly cooled with
stirring, a product is obtained having a specific gravity of 1.59-1.61.
Plastic properties of TNT. In 1945 Jefremov and Khaibashev [60] found thatat a temperature of 50°C and above, TNT exhibits the properties of a plastic
material, as under pressure (e.g. 31.6 kg/mm^2 ) at 50°C it flows off through the
holes in the vessel. At a temperature ranging from 0°C to 35°C TNT behaves as
typical brittle material. At a temperature of 35-40°C (or at 45-47°C with TNT
of high purity) a transition from the brittle to the plastic state can be observed.