FOREIGN NAMES – Explosif du Type N (France), Füllpulver, Amatol 41 (Germany), Amotolo (Italy), Shōtoyaku (Japan), A, AT (Russia), Nitramina Española (Spain)
TYPE – High explosive mixture
DATE FIRST USED AS AN EXPLOSIVE – 1915
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Great Britain
COMPOSITION – 50% Ammonium nitrate, 50% TNT
MOLECULAR WEIGHT – 118
DENSITY – 1.56 g per ml as cast
NORMAL STATE – Granular Solid
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE/COLOR – Buff yellow, darkens to light brown after exposure to light and moisture
INITIATION – 0.05 g Tetryl
SENSITIVITY – Slightly more sensitive than TNT, unaffected by friction, will not detonate from impact with a 7.62mm (.30 cal) rifle bullet
STABILITY – Slightly less stable than TNT, very stable if not exposed to moisture, may exude dangerous materials from loaded munitions if stored for extended time. Reacts with copper and tine
DETONATION VELOCITY – 6,435 m/s (21,112 fps)
RE FACTOR (BRISANCE) [TNT=1.0] – 1.17
TOXICITY – Produces toxic gases on detonation
MELTING POINT – 81o C.(178o F.)
IGNITION POINT – 254o C. to 265o C.(489o to 509o F.) Detonates
SOLUBILITY – Partially soluble in water, poor water resistance
Developed by the British to help conserve supplies of TNT during World War I, Amatol was used for very large demolition projects as well as loading munitions. The most common mixture of Amatol is 50% Ammonium nitrate to 50% TNT. These proportions can be varied, from 80 to 40% Ammonium Nitrate mixed with 20 to 60% TNT. The mixtures, except for 80/20 Amatol, are heated to 91o C. (196o F.) and poured, cast-loaded, into various munitions. Because of the plasticity of the mixture 80/20 AN/TNT Amatol is press-loaded or extruded into the receiving ordnance and proved to be the best mixture for large caliber 11.94 to 23.8 cm (4.7 to 9.2 inch) shells. A drawback of the explosive is its sensitivity to moisture, requiring charges to be coated with a layer of TNT or bitumen, to protect them from the atmosphere. Additionally, Amatol may not be stored in containers made of copper or brass as the explosive creates sensitive unstable salts from those metals. Amatol was widely used by all sides during World War I and II. Amatol has been used in all sized for munitions, The British midget X-Class submarines carried two saddle charges, each charge filled with 2,032 kilograms (two tons) of Amatol. The V2 Missile carried a 1,016 kilogram (1-ton) Amatol warhead.
