Hexamethylenetetramine Dinitrate

Hexamethylenetetramine Dinitrate

Hexamethylenetetramine Dinitrate (with HNO3, much better yield)

You will need:

14g of hexamethylenetetramine,
20mL of 70% nitric acid,
Distilled water,
Three 150mL beakers,
A thermometer,
A filter funnel,
Filter papers,
An ice bath,
A fridge,
Acetone.

1) Dissolve the hexamethylenetetramine in 100mL of water in one of the beakers (it will help if you heat it up, to around 80*C). Put it into the fridge after it's all dissolved, and cool it to around 5*C.

2) Measure out the nitric acid into another 150mL beaker.

3) Slowly, while stirring with the thermometer and keeping the temperature below 5*C (with the ice bath), add the nitric acid to the hexamethylenetetramine solution.

4) After the nitric acid has been added, cool the solution to 0*C.

5) Filter out the precipitate, and add it to 100mL of acetone in the third 150mL beaker.

6) Use the thermometer to crush it up and stir it around under the acetone.

7) Filter out the solid, and leave it to dry. Protect it from moisture.

Using the 70% HNO3 method, it worked very well, good yields of course. It isn't VERY powerful, with a V.O.D between 6000-7000 m/s, but thats not bad considering how easy it is to make. The major problem i have with this exploaive is that it is very hogroscopic, not as bad as ammonium nitrate, but if you leave it out overnight, it will be pretty wet the next day. So you will have to dry it in the oven, on low, about 60*C