7: Manufacture of Explosives

The theory of nitration is introduced with details of the nitration process for carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. The synthesis of picric acid, tetryl, TNT, TATB, HNS for carbon nitration is presented together with nitroglycerine, nitrocellulose and PETN for oxygen nitration and RDX, HMX and nitroguandine for nitrogen nitration. The methods used for the production of military and commercial explosives are also described, these include mixing, casting, pressing and extrusion for military explosives and the manufacture of ANFO, dynamite, ammonium nitrate slurries and emulsions for commercial explosives. New developments in flow nitration and additive manufacturing is also introduced.