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NITRO DERIVATIVES OF ANILINE 561

Although, according to Flürscheim, tetranitroaniline has sufficient thermal

stability, even a product of the highest purity does not give a satisfactory heat test.

According to Ingraham [19b], tetranitroaniline has shown evidence of decom-

position by the heat test at 65.5°C when only a small amount of moisture was pie-

sent. The main product of decompositions was II. Prolonged heating at 75°C

results in loss of a nitro group. At 120°C decomposition takes place which proceeds

in a way similar to that of tetryl. The initiation temperature is 231-233°C. The

specific gravity of the product is 1.867 [19].

With regard to explosive power and sensitiveness to impact tetranitroaniline
does not differ from tetryl. However, because of its poor stability it has not found

any practical use.

Tetranitroaniline may be utilized as starting material for the preparation of

stable compounds II, III and V. However, none of them exhibits any properties

which would justify the high costs of their application as explosives.