TETRYTOL:

Tetrytol is a mixture of Tetryl and TNT (70/30 is a frequent ratio). It is designed to obtain a Tetrly booster that may be cast. This mixture is slightly less powerful and less sensitive than Tetryl. Its particular use is in burster tubes for chemical bombs, in demoli-tion blooks, and in cast shaped charges. It cannot be used where the loaded item is im-mersed in hot explosive as are the auxillary booster in the loading of Army bombs becau-se it will be remelted by the heat and seaparation will result. It is approved for use in all other boosters.

Its velocity of detonation is 24,000 ft/sec. at a density of 1.60. Its Laboratory Impact Value is 45. Its Bullet Impact Value is 65. Its color is yellow.

PENTOLITE:

Pentolite is a mixture of TNT and PETN, usually 50/50. Its chief uses have been small shell loading, grenades, and in cast shaped charges. It has a very high shaped charge efficiency. It is not as stable as TNT in stowage, and separation of PETN may occur. Efforts should be made to keep it cool. Its sensitivity is such that it cannot be drilled and the fuze cavities in shells that must be drilled are poured with 90/10. It is about the same sensitivity as Tetryl in drop tests, and more sensitive than Torpex to bullet impact. Its brisance and power are equivalent to Composition B. At a density of 1.65 its rate of detonation is 24,000 ft/sec. Its Laboratory Impact Value is 47. Its Bullet Impact Value is 48.

EDNATOL:

Ednatol is a mixture of 57% EDNA and 43% TNT, designed to case the shortage of RDX. In the near future, it will be loaded as a substitute for Composition B in large G.P. bombs and frag. bombs. It is somewhat more powerfull than TNT and comparable in sen-sitivity. It become soft enough to pour at 80 degrees C and it is, therefore, cast. It is entirely stable in stowage. At a density of 1.60, it has a velocity of detonation of 24,300 ft/sec. Its Laboratory Impact Value is not given. Its Bullet Impact Value is 83. Its color is yellow.

PTX - 1:

PTX-1 is a new ternary explosive that is undergoing tests and may be adopted for loading in shells, bombs, grenades, mines, demolition blocks, and shaped charges. It is a mixture of 30% RDX, 50% Tetryl, and 20% TNT. This mixture gives a very high explosive equal to Composition B and Pentolite, and superior to Tetrytol and Ednatol. It is less sen-sitive than Tetrytol and more stable. Its velocity of detonation is 24,200 ft/sec. at a density of 1.66. Its Laboratory Impact Value is 40 (estimated). Its Bullet Impact Value is not given. Its color is yellow.

PTX - 2:

PTX-2 is another ternary explosive mixture undergoing study and possible future use. It consists of 43.2% RDX, 28% PETN, 28.8% TNT. It is slightly more sensitive in drop and bullet impact tests than Composition B, but a little less sensitive than Pentolite. It is more brisant than any of the binary mixtures now used, which would include Composition B, and is about 10% more effective than Tetryl as a booster. It may be used as a boos-ter, as a main charge for fragmentation ammunition, and as a shaped charge. Its melting point is such that it will be cast. Its velocity of detonation is 26,200 ft/sec. at a density of 1.69. Its Laboratory Impact Value is 50 (estimated). Its Bullet Impact Value is not given. Its color is yellow.

COMPOSITION C:

Composition C-3 is the only one of the Composition C series now in production though quantities of the others may be found in the field. It is 77% RDX, 3% Te-tryl, 4% TNT, 1% Nitrocellulose, 5% MNT (Mononitrotoluol), 10% DNT (Dinitrotoluol). The last two, while they are explosive, are oily liquids and plasticize the mixture. The essential diffe-rence between Composition C-3 and Composition C-2 is the substitution of 3% Tetryl for 3% RDX, which improves the plastic qualities. Composition C-1 was 88.3% RDX and 11.7% plasticizing oil. The changes have been made in order to obtain a plastic composi-tion that would meet the requirements of an ideal explosive for molded and shaped char-ges and that would maintain its practicity over a wide range of temperature and not exude oil.

Composition C-3 is about 1.35 times as powerful as TNT. Its velocity of detonation is 26,000 ft/sec at a density of 1.58. The Laboratory Impact Value is 98. The Bullet Impact Value is over 100. Its color is brown.

PEP - 3:

This is a new plastic explosive being tested for future use. Pep-3 is a mixture of 85% PETN and 14% plasticizing oil. Pep-2 was 85% PETN and 15% oil, but it was a little too soft. Pep-3 is about 90% as powerful and brisant as Composition C but its stowage sta-bility and plastic range are much better. Its sensitivity is about the same as Composition C though it has much less tendency to burn.