COMMON NAME –Pentolite 50/50
TYPE – High explosive mixture
DATE FIRST USED AS AN EXPLOSIVE – 1922
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA
COMPOSITION – 50% PETN, 50% TNT
MOLECULAR WEIGHT – 265
DENSITY – 1.65 g per ml
NORMAL STATE – Solid
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE/COLOR – Yellow to white
INITIATION – 0.13 g Lead azide, 0.19 g Mercury fulminate
SENSITIVITY – Insensitive to friction, over 70% detonations under 7.62mm (30 cal) rifle bullet impact
STABILITY – Very stable in storage when dry, not as stable as TNT
DETONATION VELOCITY – 7,465 m/s (24,491 fps)
RE FACTOR (BRISANCE) [TNT=1.0] – 1.26
TOXICITY – Toxic if ingested, produces dangerous fumes on detonation
MELTING POINT – 76o to 120o C.(169o to 248o F.)
IGNITION POINT – 220o C.(428o F.) Decomposes
SOLUBILITY – Insoluble in water, soluble in acetone
APPLICATIONS – PRINCIPLE USES – Castable explosive used in shaped charges, bursting charges, demolition blocks
During World War II, this was the most widely used explosive mixture based on PETN. A castable explosive mixture, Pentolite is additionally identified by the ratio of its explosive mixture with TNT. The most commonly used Pentolite mixture is 50/50 PETN/TNT. The modern method for producing Pentolite involves suspending PETN particles in agitated hot water. With the water above 80o C (176o F.) temperature, TNT is added which melts and coats the particles of PETN. Further processing results in a final granulated explosive that can later be melt-loaded into munitions. Pentolite is considered a very effective explosive and has been found to be nearly 50% more effective in shaped charges than TNT. In a shaped charge, the power of the explosive is focused on a cone of material. When the explosive detonates, the cone of material is collapsed and forms a very powerful jet of near plasma-like consistency that strikes a steel target and the steel literally flows away from the jet. This shaped charge effect allows a relatively small amount of explosive to penetrate a thick layer of armor, concrete, or other hard material. Pentolite is also used as the bursting charge in small cannon munitions such as 20mm projectiles.
