Hazards in the Manufacture of RDX and HMX

Abstract

Manufacture of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) by the modified Bachmann process involves the nitrolysis of hexamine in glacial acetic acid with a solution of ammonium nitratein nitric acid, in the presence of excess of acetic anhydride. Fire, explosion and toxic hazards during the manfacture of these explosives are reviewed and discussed.