1-Methyl-5-Nitrotetrazole and 2-Methyl-5-Nitrotetrazole. Part 2. Assessment of Their Potential as Initiating Explosives: Mechanical, Electrostatic and Thermal Sensitivity, and Explosive Properties

摘要

1-Methyl-5-nitrotetrazole (1) and 2-methyl-5-nitrotetrazole (2) have been assessed as initiating explosives. Although isomers, they exhibit markedly different thermal and explosive properties. (2) is an energetic material with properties both of primary and secondary explosives. It exhibits sensitivity to mechanical and electrostatic shock comparable with primary explosives but does not ignite to explosion when unconfined. When confined, it burns to a powerful explosion but this explosion does not proceed to detonation nor will it detonate even sensitive secondary explosives. (2) will detonate when initiated by lead azide. In contrast, (1) possesses similar mechanical sensitivity to (2) but is difficult to initiate by hot wire and then only undergoes an explosion with low power output. Both (1) and (2) enhance the stab sensitivity of lead azide, but neither to an appreciable extent. (2) exhibits similar initiating properties but much lower sensitivity to electrostatic discharge than lead styphnate and has the potential to replace this material in some applications. In addition, (2) is a castable purely organic compound which readily initiates from a hot wire to produce a substantial gas output, and could thus find specific practical applications. No practical use of (1) can be envisaged at this stage. (Author)