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ALIPHATIC NITRO COMPOUNDS 597

(31a)

(31b)

(31c)

Hexanitroethane gives a lead block expansion of 180 cm^3. It is more difficult

to explode by impact than picric acid. With TNT or tetryl (in stoichiometric ratio)

it forms exceptionally powerful explosives. Since it has the ability of gelatinizing

nitrocellulose the Köln-Rottweil powder factory [89] tried to use it as a smokeless

powder component to increase the explosive power of the latter. However, because

of the high production costs of hexanitroethane, it has not found a practical use.

In addition, its chemical stability is rather low: when heated it begins to decompose

at 75°C.

2,2-DINITROPROPANE

m. p. 51-52°C

2,2-Dinitropropane forms white crystals, insoluble in water.

It is usually obtained by oxidizing pseudonitrole formed from secondary nitro-

propane (Born [go]), Denton et al. [99].

(32)

2,2-Dinitropropane exhibits strong explosive properties. The initiation tempera-

ture, with an induction period of 5 sec is 360°C. Its sensitiveness to impact is of the

order of TNT. The explosive power of dinitropropane is higher than that of TNT:

it amounts to about 120, compared with 100 for TNT.

2,2-Dinitropropane has the disadvantage of being highly volatile: when stored

in a vessel that is not quite tight at 75°C for 48 hr it loses about two thirds of its

volume.

2,2-Dinitropropane has been suggested (Albright, Nelson and Raymond [91])

as an additive for Diesel engine oil to increase its octane number. With a 0.1%