Synthesis and Characterization of Pentaeritritol Tetranitrate (PETN)

Abstract

Dias PS, Pighinelli L, Guimarães FM, Broqua JS, Lisboa CM, Luis Alberto Loureiro dos Santos and Paz LR

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate is considered a high explosive that has been widely studied for its chemical and mechanical properties due to its nitrate ester group structure. Its applicability is intended from military purposes to medicine and pharmacy. It is often a substitute for nitroglycerin and can be incorporated into polymeric matrices that enhance its properties and make it safer to handle. In this work a synthesis of direct form elaborated according to the reference material was presented, by the discontinuous nitration process, conducted in several steps starting from Pentaerythritol (PE) with fuming nitric acid, having a very significant and expected yield according to data referenced in previous studies. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analyzes confirm the chemical structure of the substance obtained and the mass variation as a function of temperature, and typical information which can be derived from measurements such as characteristic temperatures (melting, crystallization, reactions, glass transition) for characterization of high energy materials. The explosive obtained by the new route proves to be effective and high yield.

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