Beijing Institute of Technology and China Academy of Engineering Physics researchers have developed a way to synthesize 1,3,5-trinitro-2,4,6-trinitroaminobenzene (TNTNB). They marked a new energy peak for organic explosives. The study was published in the journal Science Advances. Scientists describes how they synthesized the powerful explosive. They also outline its heat detonation levels.
TNT is a well-known and highly explosive material formed from a toluene by substituting its nitro rings with three hydrogen atoms. Scientists developed an even more powerful organic explosive by combining an oxidizer and a benzene ring into a molecular entity. Such an entity can generate an enormous amount of energy in a short period of time as part of a self-redox reaction.
Scientists note that like HNB, another highly explosive compound, TNTNB, has six nitro groups. But it also has three high-energy N-N bonds. Testing has shown that TNTNB produces and releases more heat during detonation than TNT and most other explosives. Its reaction speed has also been measured at 9510 m/s. It makes its detonation velocity faster than HNB. Scientists also note that its sensitivity to friction, shock or electrostatic charge is in the same range as diazodinitrophenol and lead azide. It remains stable when exposed to acid, water and air bases due to its three nitroamino groups.
Scientists synthesized the new compound from trinitro-triaminobenzene. It was first created as far back as 1888. It has always been considered a synthetic dead end for use as an explosive. As it has such strong hydrogen bonds that cannot be substituted for nitro groups.
Scientists overcame this problem by using acylation to activate the amino groups. It allowed them to attach the nitro groups. Scientists used an acylation-activation-nitration method to synthesize the new compound. They suggest that like other similar explosives. TNTNB could play an important role in mining and engineering applications, pyrotechnics, space exploration and of course in a wide variety of military weapons systems.
