STUDIES ON RDX AND RELATED COMPOUNDS: VI. THE HOMOGENEOUS HYDROLYSIS OF CYCLOTRIMETHYLENETRINITRAMINE (RDX) AND CYCLOTETRAMETHYLENETETRANITRAMINE (HMX) IN AQUEOUS ACETONE, AND ITS APPLICATION TO ANALYSIS OF HMX IN RDX(B)

Abstract

Measurements of the rates of alkaline hydrolysis of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) in aqueous acetone show these two reactions to involve consecutive steps, the first of which is second order and rate controlling. Activation energies were estimated as 14 and 25 kcal. respectively. By establishing calibration curves, and controlling temperature, alkali concentration relative to concentration of explosive, and reaction time, the differential hydrolysis permits analysis of the HMX content of RDX(B) with an error of approximately ±0.2% HMX.