Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Production of the nitromethane aci ion by UV irradiation: its effect on detonation sensitivity

Journal Article · · J. Phys. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100276a009· OSTI ID:5823288

Earlier workers have shown that UV irradiation of liquid nitromethane increases this explosive's sensitivity to detonation. They thought that the increased sensitivity was caused by UV production of methyl nitrite. The UV detonation experiment has been reproduced and an increased sensitivity has been found. Under conditions similar to the detonation experiment, it is shown that UV irradiation produces the aci ion of nitromethane and no detectable amount of methyl nitrite; /sup 13/C NMR was used to demonstrate this. This indicates that the sensitizing chemical species is the aci ion. Very small additions of organic base to liquid nitromethane also: (1) sensitive it to detonation and (2) produce the aci ion and only the aci ion. This work suggests that both means of detonation sensitization are due to the same cause - the presence of the aci ion. 14 references, 3 figures, 1 table.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM
OSTI ID:
5823288
Journal Information:
J. Phys. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Phys. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 90:4; ISSN JPCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English