Meyer R., Koehler J., Homburg A. Explosives. Wiley-VCH, 2002 / Explosives 5th ed by Koehler, Meyer, and Homburg (2002)

109	Dioxyethylnitramine Dinitrate

A purer product, consisting mainly of the 2,4-isomer, is also employed as a component of gunpowder.

The MAK value (i.e., the maximum permitted concentration in the air at the workplace) is 1.5 mg/m3.

Specifications
	moisture: not more than					0.25 %
	benzene insolubles: not more than					0.10 %
	acidity as H2SO4: not more than					0.02 %
	tetranitromethane:					none
	solidification point,
	gunpowder grade					68.0 ± 2.5 °C(154°F)
	for industrial explosives:					as low as possible
Table 10. Data of the other DNT isomers.
Dinitroto-	Density	Melting	Point	Energy of			Enthalpy
luene				Formation			of Formation
Isomer				kcal/			kcal/
	g/cm3	°C	°F	kg	kJ/kg		kg	kJ/kg
2,3-	1.2625	59.5	139	–1.1	– 4.6		– 20.9	– 87.5
2,5-	1.2820	50.5	123	– 25.3	–106		– 45.0	–188
3,4-	1.2594	59.5	139	0	0		–19.2	– 80.4
3,5-	1.2772	93	199.5	– 37.3	–156		– 57.1	– 239

Dioxyethylnitramine Dinitrate

Nitrodiathanolamindinitrat;

dinitrate de dioxydthylnitramine; DINA

colorless crystals

empirical formula: C4H8N4O8 molecular weight: 240.1

energy of formation: – 249.8 kcal/kg = –1045.1 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: – 274.4 kcal/kg = –1148.2 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 26.6 %

nitrogen content: 23.34 %

volume of explosion gases: 924 l/kg heat of explosion

(H2O liq.): 1304 kcal/kg = 5458 kJ/kg (H2O gas): 1201 kcal/kg = 5025 kJ/kg specific energy: 133 mt/kg = 1306 kJ/kg

density: 1.488 g/cm3

Dipentaerythritol Hexanitrate	110

melting point: 51.3 °C 124.3 °F detonation velocity, confined:

7580 m/s = 25 000 ft/s at r = 1.47 g/cm3 impact sensitivity: 0.6 kp m = 6 N m

This compound is prepared from diethanolamine and nitric acid with acetic anhydride as a dehydrating agent and in the presence of hydrochloric acid as a catalyst. The nitration product is stabilized by boiling in water, followed by dissolution in acetone and reprecipitation with water.

It is a satisfactory gelatinizer for nitrocellulose and is a powerful explosive, comparable to Cyclonite and PETN. Double base propellants based on DINA instead of nitroglycerine are named “Albanite”.

Dipentaerythritol Hexanitrate

Hexanitrodipentaerythrit; hexanitrate de dipenta´erythrite; DIPEHN

colorless crystals

empirical formula: C10H16N6O19 molecular weight: 524.2

energy of formation: – 424.2 kcal/kg = –1771 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: – 446 kcal/kg = –1867 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 27.5 %

nitrogen content: 16.03 %

volume of explosion gases: 878 l/kg heat of explosion

(H2O liq.): 1229 kcal/kg = 5143 kJ/kg (H2O gas): 1133 kcal/kg = 4740 kJ/kg specific energy: 125 mt/kg = 1223 kJ/kg

density: 1.63 g/cm3

melting point: 72 °C = 162°F detonation velocity, confined:

7400 m/s = 24 300 ft/s at r = 1.6 g/cm3 deflagration point: 200 °C = 392°F impact sensitivity: 0.4 kp m = 4 N m

The compound is soluble in acetone, but insoluble in water. When technical grade pentaerythritol is nitrated, a certain amount of dipentaerythritol hexanitrate is formed as a by-product.

111	Diphenylurethane

Diphenylamine

Diphenylamin; diph´enylamine

colorless crystals empirical formula: C12H11N molecular weight: 169.2

energy of formation: +204.6 kcal/kg = +856.0 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: +183.6 kcal/kg = +768.2 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 278.9 %

nitrogen content: 8.28 % density: 1.16 g/cm3

melting point: 54 °C = 129°F boiling point: 302 °C = 576°F

Diphenylamine is sparingly soluble in water, but is readily soluble in alcohol and acids. It may be used as reagent for nitric acid and nitrates. Its use as a W Stabilizer is particularly important.

Specifications

solidification point:	51.7– 53 °C =
	125 –127.4°F
insolubles in benzene:
not more than	0.02 %
moisture: not more than	0.2 %
solution in ether-alcohol:	clear
ashes: not more than	0.05 %
aniline: not more than	0.1 %
acidity; as HCl: not more than	0.005 %
alkalinity, as NaOH: not more than	0.005 %

Diphenylurethane

Diphanylurethan; diph´enylurethane

empirical formula: C15H15NO2 molecular weight: 241.3

energy of formation: – 256.0 kcal/kg = –1071.1 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: – 278.1 kcal/kg = –1163.5 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 235.4 %

nitrogen content: 5.81 %

Diphenylurethane is used as a gunpowder stabilizer and gelatinizer.

Dipicrylurea	112
Specifications
snow-white powder
solidification point:
not less than	70 °C = 158°F
melt:	clear, colorless
volatiles: not more than	0.1 %
ashes: not more than	0.1 %
insolubles in ether	none
chlorides, as NaCl: not more than	0.02 %
reaction:	neutral
acidity, n/10 NaOH/100 g:
not more than	0.1 cm3

Dipicrylurea

Hexanitrocarbanilid; dipicrylur´ee

pale yellow crystals

empirical formula: C13H6N8O13 molecular weight: 482.2 oxygen balance: – 53.2 % nitrogen content: 23.24 %

melting point: 208 – 209 °C = 406 – 408°F deflagration point: 345 °C = 655°F

Dipicrylurea is prepared by nitration of carbanilide in one or more stages.

Dismantling of Explosive Objects,

Especially Ammunition.

A principal distinction must be made between two kinds of ammunition: ammunition of known origin, which has been properly stored and which has to be separated out for routine reasons (aging; replacement by other types of ammunition), and ammunition found lying around or acquired as booty. The latter kind of ammunition may well have been exposed to strong corrosive agents, and its delayed action fuses may no longer be controllable. Handling abandoned ammunition is one of the most dangerous tasks in explosive handling and must be left to top experts in this field (familiarity with the regulations concerning explosive substances is NOT enough); this includes the very first attempt to move the ammunition while still in situ. A detailed discussion of the

113	Donarit

deactivation of abandoned ammunition is outside the scope of this book.

Explosive objects are classified according to the potential danger they present. The criteria of such a classification include the nature of the explosive object, whether or not they contain detonators or primers, and whether or not they present a W Mass Explosion Risk. Dangerous mechanical tasks, such as unscrewing the detonators or sawing them off, cutting, milling, or sawing, must in any case be performed under remote control.

Fusible explosives such as TNT and TNT mixtures may be melted out of their containers (grenades, bombs, mines) after removal of detonators and booster charges. The material thus obtained may be purified and re-used for non-military purposes.

Case bonded W Composite Propellants are unloaded from their casing by a remote controlled lathe or water gun; also W Case Bonding

Also W Destruction of Explosive Materials

Ditching Dynamite

A mixed dynamite, containing about 50 % non-gelatinized nitroglycerine, used for ditch blasting. This explosive displays a particularly strong tendency to flash over. Usually only the first charge is initiated by the cap. The following charges for the excavation of the “ditch” are exploded by the effect of the first detonation (shock wave) (W Detonation, Sympathetic Detonation).

Dithekite

A U.S. trade name for an explosive liquid mixture of nitric acid, nitrobenzene and water.

Donarit

Trade names of ammonium-nitrate based nitroglycerine-sensitized powder-form explosives distributed in the Germany and exported by WASAGCHEMIE.

Donor				114
Donarit	Density	Weight	Detonation,	Velocity
	g/cm3	Strength	confined
		%	m/s	ft/s
1	0.95	83	4500	14 800
4	1.0	82	4100	13 500

Donor*)

Geberladung; charge excitatrice

An exploding charge producing an impulse that impinges upon an explosive “Acceptor” charge.

Do’s and Don’ts*)

A list of precautions (IME Safety Library Publication No. 4) printed by the Institute of Makers of Explosives pertaining to the transportation, storage, handling, and use of explosives and inserted in each case of explosive materials. (Also published in Blasters Handbook.)

Double Base Propellants

nitroglycerine powders; POL-Pulver; poudres a base de la nitroglyc´erine

This term denotes propellants containing two main components: nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine or other liquid nitrate esters. Double base powders are important solid rocket propellants.

Double base compositions can be manufactured without the application of organic solvents by heated rolling and pressing of W Paste.

Drop Test

W Bomb Drop Test

Dutch Test

Holland Test

A method developed in 1927 by the Dutchman Thomas for the determination of the chemical stability of propellants. The parameter which

* Text quoted from glossary.

115 Dynacord

is determined in the method is the weight loss which takes place after 72-hours heating at 105 °C (221°F) (multibase propellants) or at 110 °C (230°F) (single-base propellants). This loss, after subtracting the loss occurring after the first 8 hours of heating, must not exceed 2 %.

An advantage of this test is that not only nitrogen oxides, but also all the other decomposition products of the propellants – in particular CO2 and N2 – are determined by it. In order to work under reproducible experimental conditions, precision-stoppered tubes of an identical type, equipped with calibrated capillaries, are employed.

Since the heating temperature is rather high, especially so for multibase powders, it was proposed by Siebert to determine the weight loss at a lower temperature and not to limit the duration of heating, but to continue it until some auto-catalytic or other evident decomposition becomes apparent. This test, which should be carried out at 90, 75 and 65 °C (149°F), may also be employed to indicate the loss of stability on storage (shelf life) of a propellant.

Dwell Time*)

In press loading powders into cavities, the interval of time that the powder is held at the full loading pressure.

Dyno Boost®

Dyno Boost® is the trade name of a booster charge made by the DYNAMIT NOBEL GmbH Company. The system, which consists of high-power explosive, can be detonated using a standard blasting cap.

Density:	1.6 g/ml
Weight:	1.7 kg
Detonation velocity:	7000 m/s

Dynacord®

Trade name of a detonating cord distributet in Germany and exportet by DYNAMIT NOBEL GmbH. It contains about 12 g PETN/m (W also

Supercord)

* Text quoted from glossary.

Dynaschoc	116

Dynaschoc®

Dynaschoc® is the trade name of a non-electrical detonating system (see also W Nonel) made by the DYNAMIT NOBEL GmbH Company. In this system the detonation pulse is propagated at about 2000 m/s via a thin plastics tube whose internal surface is dusted with about 16 mg of explosive per m. The tube is not destroyed by this detonation pulse.

Dynatronic®

Dynatronic® is the trade name of a series of programmable detonators together with the associated programming and control devices made by the DYNAMIT NOBEL GmbH Company.

Dynamite LVD; MVD

Compositions for defined detonation velocities:
LVD (low-velocity dynamite):
RDX	17.5 %
TNT	67.8 %
PETRIN	8.6 %
binder (Vistac and DOS)	4.1 %
acetylcellulose	2.0 %
MVD (medium-velocity dynamite):
RDX	75 %
TNT	15 %
starch	5 %
oil	4 %
Vistanex oil gel	1 %

Dynamites

Dynamite was the first trade name introduced for a commercial explosive by Alfred Nobel; it was nitroglycerine absorbed in kieselguhr (Guhr dynamite). Bonding of nitroglycerine by gelatinization with nitrocellulose was discovered by Nobel at a later date.

At first, active absorbents such as a mixture of sodium nitrate with wood dust were employed instead of the inert kieselguhr. The result was the development of nitroglycerine-sensitized powdery explosives, which are still known as “dynamites” in English-speaking countries;

W also Ditching Dynamite.

117	Emulsion Slurries

Variations in the concentration of gelatinized nitroglycerine (the concentrated product is known as blasting gelatine) by the addition of sodium nitrate and wood dust or cereal meal yielded gel dynamites, which are known as “gelignites” in English-speaking countries; in Germany, the old designation of “dynamite” has been retained. In the meantime, they have been placed by ammonium-nitrate-based W Ammongelit. These products contain nitroglycol rather than nitroglycerine, with improvement in the safety of handling and transportation.

Dynamites are no longer manufactured in Germany.

Ednatol

A cast explosive charge employed in the USA. It consists of a mixture of W Ethylendinitramine and TNT in the ratio of 55 : 45.

casting density:	1.62 g/cm3
detonation velocity at casting density,
confined:	7300 m/s = 23 900 ft/s

EED*)

Electro-explosive device

Any detonator or initiator initiated by an electric current.

One-Ampere/One-Watt Initiator = EED that will not fire when one ampere of current at one watt of power is supplied to a bridgewire for a specified time.

Emulsion Slurries

Emulsion slurries (W Slurries) are based on a “water-in-oil emulsion” which is formed from a saturated nitrate solution and a mineral oil phase. Additions controlling the density (formation of gas bubbles or W Microballoons) are used to achieve a density that can be adjusted within an range between primer sensitivity (booster charge) and cap sensitivity.

The density is slightly higher when compared with water gels and results in higher performance; explosion temperature and detonation pressure are higher. There is a positive oxygen balance. Due to the fact that the mixture is substantially more intimate, there are differences in detonation kinetics compared to water gels. The blasting efficiency is higher, particularly in hard rock.

* Text quoted from glossary.

, Fifth Edition Rudolf Meyer, Josef Köhler, Axel Homburg

117

Variations in the concentration of gelatinized nitroglycerine (the concentrated product is known as blasting gelatine) by the addition of sodium nitrate and wood dust or cereal meal yielded gel dynamites, which are known as “gelignites” in English-speaking countries; in Germany, the old designation of “dynamite” has been retained. In the meantime, they have been placed by ammonium-nitrate-based W Ammongelit. These products contain nitroglycol rather than nitroglycerine, with improvement in the safety of handling and transportation.

Dynamites are no longer manufactured in Germany.

Ednatol

A cast explosive charge employed in the USA. It consists of a mixture of W Ethylendinitramine and TNT in the ratio of 55 : 45.

casting density:	1.62 g/cm3
detonation velocity at casting density,
confined:	7300 m/s = 23 900 ft/s

EED*)

Electro-explosive device

Any detonator or initiator initiated by an electric current.

One-Ampere/One-Watt Initiator = EED that will not fire when one ampere of current at one watt of power is supplied to a bridgewire for a specified time.

Emulsion Slurries

Emulsion slurries (W Slurries) are based on a “water-in-oil emulsion” which is formed from a saturated nitrate solution and a mineral oil phase. Additions controlling the density (formation of gas bubbles or W Microballoons) are used to achieve a density that can be adjusted within an range between primer sensitivity (booster charge) and cap sensitivity.

The density is slightly higher when compared with water gels and results in higher performance; explosion temperature and detonation pressure are higher. There is a positive oxygen balance. Due to the fact that the mixture is substantially more intimate, there are differences in detonation kinetics compared to water gels. The blasting efficiency is higher, particularly in hard rock.

* Text quoted from glossary.