HMX

HMX, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive nitroamine high explosive, chemically related to RDX. The compound's name is the subject of much speculation, having been variously listed as High Melting Explosive, High-velocity Military Explosive, or High-Molecular-weight RDX.[1]

For other uses, see HMX (disambiguation).
HMX
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
1,3,5,7-Tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane
Other names
Octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.018.418
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C4H8N8O8/c13-9(14)5-1-6(10(15)16)3-8(12(19)20)4-7(2-5)11(17)18/h1-4H2 checkY
    Key: UZGLIIJVICEWHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C4H8N8O8/c13-9(14)5-1-6(10(15)16)3-8(12(19)20)4-7(2-5)11(17)18/h1-4H2
    Key: UZGLIIJVICEWHF-UHFFFAOYAL
  • C1N(CN(CN(CN1[N+](=O)[O-])[N+](=O)[O-])[N+](=O)[O-])[N+](=O)[O-]
Properties
C4H8N8O8
Molar mass 296.155 g/mol
Density 1.91 g/cm3, solid
Melting point 276 to 286 °C (529 to 547 °F; 549 to 559 K)
Explosive data
Shock sensitivity Low
Friction sensitivity Low
Detonation velocity 9100 m/s
RE factor 1.70
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
 Explosive
GHS labelling:
GHS01: Explosive GHS06: Toxic
Danger
H201, H205, H241, H301, H304, H311, H319
P210, P250, P280, P370+P380, P372, P373
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond
3
1
3
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)
Infobox references

The molecular structure of HMX consists of an eight-membered ring of alternating carbon and nitrogen atoms, with a nitro group attached to each nitrogen atom. Because of its high molecular weight, it is one of the most potent chemical explosives manufactured, although a number of newer ones, including HNIW and ONC, are more powerful.

Synthesis

HMX is more complicated to manufacture than most explosives, and this confines it to specialist applications. It and RDX are both produced by the Bachmann process—nitration of hexamine using a mixture of ammonium nitrate and nitric acid in a mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride as solvent— with the major product determined by the specific reaction conditions.[2]

Applications

Also known as cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine, tetrahexamine tetranitramine, or octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine, HMX was first made in 1930. In 1949 it was discovered that HMX can be prepared by nitrolysis of RDX. Nitrolysis of RDX is performed by dissolving RDX in a 55% HNO3 solution, followed by placing the solution on a steambath for about six hours.[3] HMX is used almost exclusively in military applications, including as the detonator in nuclear weapons, in the form of polymer-bonded explosive, and as a solid-rocket propellant.

HMX is used in melt-castable explosives when mixed with TNT, which as a class are referred to as "octols". Additionally, polymer-bonded explosive compositions containing HMX are used in the manufacture of missile warheads and armor-piercing shaped charges.

HMX is also used in the process of perforating the steel casing in oil and gas wells. The HMX is built into a shaped charge that is detonated within the wellbore to punch a hole through the steel casing and surrounding cement out into the hydrocarbon-bearing formations. The pathway that is created allows formation fluids to flow into the wellbore and onward to the surface.[4][5]

The Hayabusa2 space probe used HMX to excavate a hole in an asteroid in order to access material that had not been exposed to the solar wind.[6]

Ongoing research aims to reduce its sensitivity and improve some manufacturing properties.[7][8]

Health and environmental fate

Analytical methods

HMX enters the environment through air, water, and soil because it is widely used in military and civil applications. At present, reverse-phase HPLC and more sensitive LC-MS methods have been developed to accurately quantify the concentration of HMX in a variety of matrices in environmental assessments.[9][10]

Toxicity

At present, the information needed to determine if HMX causes cancer is insufficient. Due to the lack of information, EPA has determined that HMX is not classifiable as to its human carcinogenicity.[11]

The available data on the effects on human health of exposure to HMX are limited. HMX causes CNS effects similar to those of RDX, but at considerably higher doses. In one study, volunteers submitted to patch testing, which produced skin irritation. Another study of a cohort of 93 workers at an ammunition plant found no hematological, hepatic, autoimmune, or renal diseases. However, the study did not quantify the levels of exposure to HMX.

HMX exposure has been investigated in several studies on animals. Overall, the toxicity appears to be quite low. HMX is poorly absorbed by ingestion. When applied to the dermis, it induces mild skin irritation but not delayed contact sensitization. Various acute and subchronic neurobehavioral effects have been reported in rabbits and rodents, including ataxia, sedation, hyperkinesia, and convulsions. The chronic effects of HMX that have been documented through animal studies include decreased hemoglobin, increased serum alkaline phosphatase, and decreased albumin. Pathological changes were also observed in the animals' livers and kidneys.

Gas exchange rate was used as an indicator of chemical stress in Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) eggs, and no evidence of alterations in metabolic rates associated with HMX exposure was observed.[12] No data are available concerning the possible reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects of HMX.[2][13] HMX is considered less toxic than TNT or RDX.[14] Remediating HMX-contaminated water supplies has proven to be successful.[15]

Biodegradation

Both wild and transgenic plants can phytoremediate explosives from soil and water.[16]

See also

Notes
  1. Cooper, Paul W., Explosives Engineering, New York: Wiley-VCH, 1996. ISBN 0-471-18636-8
  2. John Pike (1996-06-19). "Nitramine Explosives". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  3. WE Bachmann, JC Sheehan (1949). "A New Method of Preparing the High Explosive RDX1". Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1949 (5):1842–1845.
  4. Hansen, Brad (11 March 2013), "Technical Presentation Session 3: Drilling and Completion Casing Perforating Overview" (PDF), Casing Perforation Overview, EPA's Study of Hydraulic Fracturing and Its Potential Impact on Drinking Water Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  5. Liu, He; Wang, Feng; Weng, Yucai; Gao, Yang; Cheng, Jianlong (December 2014). "Oil well perforation technology: Status and prospects". Petroleum Exploration and Development. 41 (6): 798–804. Bibcode:2014PEDO...41..798L. doi:10.1016/S1876-3804(14)60096-3.
  6. Saiki, Takanao; Sawada, Hirotaka; Okamoto, Chisato; Yano, Hajime; Takagi, Yasuhiko; Akahoshi, Yasuhiro; Yoshikawa, Makoto (2013). "Small carry-on impactor of Hayabusa2 mission". Acta Astronautica. 84: 227–236. Bibcode:2013AcAau..84..227S. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2012.11.010.
  7. Kosareva, Ekaterina K.; Zharkov, Mikhail N.; Meerov, Dmitry B.; Gainutdinov, Radmir V.; Fomenkov, Igor V.; Zlotin, Sergei G.; Pivkina, Alla N.; Kuchurov, Ilya V.; Muravyev, Nikita V. (January 2022). "HMX surface modification with polymers via sc-CO2 antisolvent process: A way to safe and easy-to-handle energetic materials". Chemical Engineering Journal. 428: 131363. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2021.131363.
  8. Lin, Congmei; Zeng, Chengcheng; Wen, Yushi; Gong, Feiyan; He, Guansong; Li, Yubin; Yang, Zhijian; Ding, Ling; Li, Jiang; Guo, Shaoyun (2020-01-22). "Litchi-like Core–Shell HMX@HPW@PDA Microparticles for Polymer-Bonded Energetic Composites with Low Sensitivity and High Mechanical Properties". ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 12 (3): 4002–4013. doi:10.1021/acsami.9b20323. ISSN 1944-8244. PMID 31874021. S2CID 209473864.
  9. Liu, Jun; Severt, Scott A.; Pan, Xiaoping; Smith, Philip N.; McMurry, Scott T.; Cobb, George P. (2007-02-15). "Development of an extraction and cleanup procedure for a liquid chromatographic–mass spectrometric method to analyze octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine in eggs". Talanta. 71 (2): 627–631. doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2006.05.007. PMID 19071351.
  10. Pan, Xiaoping; Zhang, Baohong; Tian, Kang; Jones, Lindsey E.; Liu, Jun; Anderson, Todd A.; Wang, Jia-Sheng; Cobb, George P. (2006-07-30). "Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX)". Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 20 (14): 2222–2226. Bibcode:2006RCMS...20.2222P. doi:10.1002/rcm.2576. ISSN 1097-0231. PMID 1679187.
  11. "Octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetr... (HMX) (CASRN 2691-41-0) | IRIS | US EPA." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
  12. Liu, Jun; Cox, Stephen B.; Beall, Blake; Brunjes, Kristina J.; Pan, Xiaoping; Kendall, Ronald J.; Anderson, Todd A.; McMurry, Scott T.; Cobb, George P. (2008-05-01). "Effects of HMX exposure upon metabolic rate of northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) in ovo". Chemosphere. 71 (10): 1945–1949. Bibcode:2008Chmsp..71.1945L. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.12.024. ISSN 0045-6535. PMID 18279915.
  13. "Fact Sheets". Mmr-iagwsp.org. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  14. Daniels, J. I.; Knezovich, J. P. (December 1994). "Information Bridge: DOE Scientific and Technical Information - Sponsored by OSTI" (PDF). Osti.gov. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  15. Newell, Charles. "Treatment of RDX & HMX Plumes Using Mulch Biowalls." ESTCP Project ER-0426. 2008.
  16. Panz K; Miksch K (December 2012). "Phytoremediation of explosives (TNT, RDX, HMX) by wild-type and transgenic plants". Journal of Environmental Management. 113: 85–92. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.08.016. PMID 22996005.

References
  • Cooper, Paul W. (1996). Explosives Engineering. New York: Wiley-VCH. ISBN 978-0-471-18636-6. OCLC 34409473. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  • Urbanski, Tadeusz (1967). Chemistry and Technology of Explosives. Vol. III. Warszawa: Polish Scientific Publishers.
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