Trimethylolethane trinitrate
Trimethylolethane trinitrate (TMETN), also known as metriol trinitrate (METN, MTN, METRTN) or nitropentaglycerin, is a nitro ester. It is a high explosive similar to nitroglycerin. It is a transparent oily liquid, colorless to light brown. It is odorless. It is used in some solid propellants and smokeless powders as a plasticizer. Its chemical formula is CH3-C(CH2-O-NO2)3.
TMETN was first prepared and patented in Italy under name Metriolo. Germans became producing it before WW2 after it proved as an erosion and flash reducing agent in smokeless powders. It is a liquid explosive with properties similar to nitroglycerin but more stable to heat. It is prepared by nitration of trimethylolethane (metriol). It does not induce headaches.
TMETN can be initiated by friction, impact, and electrostatic discharge. It can be used as a high viscosity plasticizer-binder together with nitrocellulose, but its poor coloiding properties made such use rare; long-term milling can however assist here; success can also be achieved by adding an inert plasticizer and a volatile solvent/colloiding agent. [1]
TMETN is miscible with ether and acetone. It is insoluble in 95% sulfuric acid. [2]
TMETN can be used as a plasticizer together, or as an alternative to, triethyleneglycol dinitrate (TEGDN).
TMETN can also be used as a monopropellant. [3]