| Use | HIGH EXPLOSIVE [R1, 393]
USED AS BASE CHARGE FOR DETONATORS AND AS AN INGREDIENT OF
BURSTING-CHARGES AND PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES BY THE MILITARY [R2, 4196]
Employed occasionally as a rodenticide [R5]
BECAUSE IT IS EASILY INITIATED BY MERCURY FULMINATE IT MAY BE USED
AS A BOOSTER. [R6, 2668]
APPROX 100% IN EXPLOSIVES FOR MILITARY USE (1975) [R4]
The production of cyclonite (RDX) was listed as 102xl0+6 lb in l972. [R7]
| Apparent Color | White, crystaline powder
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| Odor | N/A
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| Boiling Point | N/A
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| Melting Point | 205-206 DEG C
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| Molecular Weight | 222.26
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| Misc | INSOL IN WATER, ALC, BENZENE, CARBON DISULFIDE;
SLIGHTLY SOL IN
ETHER, METHANOL, TOLUENE; SLIGHTLY SOL IN ETHYL ACETATE, GLACIAL
ACETIC ACID; PRACTICALLY INSOL IN CARBON TETRACHLORIDE; Readily sol in hot
aniline, phenol, warm nitric acid.; 1 G DISSOLVES IN 25 ML ACETONE
SPEC: +IR: 3768 (Documentation of Molecular Spectroscopy Collection); +UV: 1-12 (Organic
Electronic Spectral Data, Phillips et al, John Wiley & Sons, New York); +MASS: 181
(Aldermaston, Eight Peak Index of Mass Spectra, UK); +MASS: 1443 (National Bureau of
Standards EPA-NIH Mass Spectra Data Base, NSRDS-NBS-63)
+ORTHORHOMBIC CRYSTALS FROM ACETONE
Impure military grades containing about 10% HMX /hexamethylenetetramine, has a melting
point of/ about 190 deg C.
DANGEROUS DUE TO FIRE ... HAZARD. /NITRATES/ [R6, 2002]
Fight fires from safe distance from explosion. In advanced or massive fires, the area
should be evacuated. If fire occurs in the vicinity of this material water should be used to keep
containers cool. [R8]
Do not fight fires in a cargo of explosives. Evacuate area & let burn. ... Wear positive pressure
self contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving this material. Evacuation: If the
material is on fire or involved in fire consider evacuation of one (1) mile radius.
/Cyclotrimethylene trinitramine, desensitized; cyclotrimethylene trinitramine, wet with not less
than 10% water/ [R9]
Dangerously explosive. [R9]
EXPLOSION: Cyclotrimethylene trinitramine is a Class A explosive. Class A explosives are
explosives
which decompose by detonation. This detonation occurs almost instantaneously & is violent. The
explosion may be initiated by a sudden shock, high temp or a combination of the two. [R9]
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL HIGH EXPLOSIVES IN USE TODAY. [R6, 2668]
EXPLOSIVE, 1.5 TIMES AS POWERFUL AS TNT [R10]
Cyclonite is of the same order of brisance & explosive strength as PETN /pentaerythritol
tetranitrate/ & distinctly superior to tetryl as determined by sand, rate of detonation, ballistic
pendulum, & Trauzl lead block tests. [R2, 4196]
REACTIVITY: +... THEY ARE POWERFUL OXIDIZING AGENTS WHICH MAY CAUSE
VIOLENT REACTION WITH REDUCING MATERIALS. /NITRATES/ [R6, 2002]
DURING THE PREPN OF 1-ACETYLHEXAHYDRO-3,5-DINITRO-1,3,5-TRIAZINE, A
CONTAMINATE FORMED DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF RDX, A MIXT
CONSISTING OF 3:1 MOLAR RATIO OF NITRIC
ACID:1,3-TRIACETYLHEXAHYDRO-1,3,5-TRIAZINE IN TRIFLUOROACETIC
ANHYDRIDE DETONATED WITHOUT WARNING. [R11]
Incompatible with shock & detonators, oxidizing materials, & combustibles. [R12]
... IT IS EASILY INITIATED BY MERCURY FULMINATE ... . [R6, 2668]
+ON DECOMP THEY EMIT TOXIC FUMES. /NITRATES/ [R6, 2002]
Irritation of eyes & respiratory tract. [R12]
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT INCLUDING EYE PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR NORMAL PROCESS WORK AS
PROTECTION AGAINST EYE SPLASHES, ACID BURNS, DERMATITIS AND SKIN
ABSORPTION OF TOXIC MATERIALS. /EXPLOSIVE INDUSTRY/ [R3, 809]
Wear neoprene gloves, plastic clothing, self contained breathing apparatus, safety glasses. [R8]
Wear chemical goggles. ... Use chemical cartridge respirator. 100 ug/L(1). Groundwater samples taken at the Milan AAP showed RDX levels
(4 of 39 samples) at <20 to 780 ug/L (avg 270 ug/L)(2). Detected in 7 of 7 ground water wells at
a munitions disposal site in concentrations ranging 1-47 ug/L(3). Identified in an unspecified AAP
water supply well at 70 ug/L(4). [R42]
Cyclonite (RDX) was measured in wastewater discharge from the Holston Army
Ammunition Plant(AAP) (RDX production facility), Jan-Jun 1973 (4 discharge sites), not
detected to 24.3 mg/L (avg 0.5 to 10.4 mg/L)(1). In May, 1979, the daily discharge of RDX from
this plant ranged 0.110 to 16.02 mg/L(2). Emissions from the burning of waste RDX contained
none of the pollutant in gaseous form, but 0.0004 to 0.0052 kg/hr was released with particulate
emissions(2). Analyzed in the wastewater from an AAP (load and pack facility in Iowa) at
concentrations ranging 23.8 to 173 mg/L, averaging 80.5 mg/L (before carbon treatment
columns). The discharged effluent concentration of RDX was then reduced to <0.1 to 24.4 mg/L
(mean 1.53) mg/L by the filters(3). [R43]
Cyclonite (RDX) was found at the Milan Army Ammunition Plant (AAP) in soil samples
(51 to 83,000 ng/g) and in 5 of 5 sediment samples from an on site lagoon (2,600 to 38,000 ug/g,
avg 11,080 ng/g)(1). In the sediment of a nearby stream, RDX was found in 3 of 15 samples at
290 to 43,000 ug/g (avg 15,160 ng/g)(1). Found in the sediment of a Louisiana AAP waste water
lagoon at 0.10 to 89 ug/g(2). Not found in five sediment samples taken near deep water munition
dumps in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (detection limits 5 parts per trillion)(3). [R44]
FISH: Not found in various fish obtained near deep water munition dumps in the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans (detection limits 123 parts per trillion)(1). [R45]
Inhalation, ingestion, skin & eye contact. [R12]
... DRYING, SIEVING, AND PACKING WHERE DUST ... /CAN/ BE INHALED.
[R2, 4197]
Those involved in manufacturing of this material and in handling in munitions and solid
propellant manufacture. [R12]
The probable routes of exposure for cyclonite (RDX) are through dermal contact during the
manufacture, formulation, and use of this compound in the production of munitions. For the
general public, exposure should be limited to areas where cyclonite is manufactured, converted
into munitions, or released through the demilitarization of antiquated munitions. Probable routes
of exposure for the general public include ingestion of contaminated water, and inhalation of
contaminated particulate matter produced during the incineration of cyclonite containing waste
material. (SRC)
NIOSH (NOHS Survey 1972- 1974) has statistically estimated that 8242 workers are exposed to
cyclonite in the USA(1). NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 488
workers are exposed to cyclonite in the USA (2). [R46]
OSHA: 8 hr Time-Weighted avg: 1.5 mg/cu m. Skin absorption designation. /Final rule limits/
must be achieved by any combination of engineering controls, work practices and personal
protective equipment-effective Sept 1, 1989. [R47]
Meets criteria for OSHA medical records rule. [R48]
+8 hr Time Weighted Avg (TWA) 1.5 mg/cu m (1990) [R49, 17]
+Excursion Limit Recommendation: Excursions in worker exposure levels may exceed three
times the TLV-TWA for no more than a total of 30 min during a work day, and under no
circumstances should they exceed five times the TLV-TWA, provided that the TLV-TWA is not
exceeded. [R49, 5]
+MAC USSR 1 mg/cu m [R3, 807]
Determination in air: Collection on filter ... [R12]
POTENTIALLY TOXIC AIR POLLUTANT EMISSIONS FROM DISPOSAL OF
MUNITIONS FROM A FLUIDIZED BED INCINERATOR WERE IDENTIFIED BY
MATERIAL THROUGH-PUT ANALYSIS & COMPUTER SIMULATION MODELING OF
THE COMBUSTION CYCLE. ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES WERE DEVELOPED &
EVALUATED. SUBSTANCES STUDIED INCL RDX. [R50]
RDX IN AQ SOLN CAN BE MEASURED DIRECTLY BY RAPID SCAN SINGLE SWEEP
POLAROGRAPHY. THE LOWER LIMIT OF DETECTION IS APPROX 0.5 PPM. [R51]
HIGH PRESSURE-LIQ CHROMATOGRAPHY & CHEMICAL IONIZATION MASS
SPECTROMETRY WERE USED IN THE ISOLATION & IDENTIFICATION OF
EXPLOSIVE RESIDUE. THE PROCEDURE IS APPLICABLE TO ANALYSIS OF
RESIDUES OF EXPLOSIVES SUCH AS RDX. [R52]
Determination in air: Collection on filter, analysis by ultraviolet. [R12]
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