A Survey on the Cyclotetramethylene Tetranitramine (HMX)

Abstract

Cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (1,3,5,7,-tetranitro-1,3,5,7,-tetrazacyclo-octane) which has been classified as high explosive, a source of high chemical energy, falls into polynitramine group of the nitramines. Its is also known as octogen and HMX. Its is one of the most powerful explosives having high density(1.9g/cc), high melting point (281 Degree calcius) and high velocity of detonation(9100m/sec). It has slightly higher energy than RDX and therefore, used where a maximum energy is required by limited dimensions of charge. Because of its resistance towards heat, it has become the nucleus of research for thermally for thermally stable compositions. It has been used in number of binary mixtures in conjunction with TNT, RDX,TNB etc. It forms the main constituent in certain plastic bonded explosives(PBX). In the present review attempt has been made to cover the available literature on HMX.