PREPARATION AND SENSITIVITY CHARACTERISTICS OF 3-NITRO- 1, 2, 4-TRIAZOL-5-ONE (NTO) –BASED CASTED EXPLOSIVE FORMULATIONS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 British University in Egypt (BUE).

2 Egyptian Armed forces.

3 Karary Academy of Technology, Sudan Republic (M. Sc. Student MTC).

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Different explosive formulations based on 3-Nitro-1, 2, 4-triazol-5-one ( NTO), which is
an extremely insensitive explosive, were prepared by casting with Trinitrotoluene
(TNT) or Polyurethane (PU) to avoid casting problems originating from the high melting
point of NTO. Synthesis of NTO was carried out by two consecutive reactions;
condensation reaction of semicarbazide hydrochloride with formic acid to produce 1, 2,
4-triazol-5-one (TO), then nitration for the prepared (TO) with nitric acid. The obtained
products from both reaction steps were characterized by the determination of melting
point, infrared spectroscopy, and measurement of some explosive characteristics
(Sensitivity to impact, friction, ignition temperature and delay of ignition). Different
mixtures of NTO/TNT and NTO/PU were studied theoretically using a computer
program. The obtained results of explosive performance parameters were utilized to
select the explosive mixtures (NTO/TNT 65:35, NTO/PU 88:12) to be prepared and
tested. Sensitivity to impact of TNT, prepared NTO and candidate formulations
(NTO/PU 88:12, NTO/TNT 65:35) measured and compared together. Formulations
based on NTO/PU have lowest sensitivity to impact (36 joule). The ignition
temperatures of NTO/TNT (65:35) and for (NTO/PU) (88:12) explosive formulations
were markedly less than that of pure TNT and pure NTO.
The obtained results of explosive performance parameters were used to determine the
candidate explosive mixtures for future practical applications and work to explore the
possible application of NTO in insensitive munitions (IM) compliant explosives.

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