Energetic Materials
TNT (2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene)
C₇H₅N₃O₆, CAS 118-96-7. The reference military high explosive, used as a melt-cast fill for munitions and as a component of mixed compositions with RDX and other energetics. Military-grade material can be sourced to the buyer's specification, or to a recognised standard such as MIL-DTL-248 where the producer certifies to it, from producers screened for ownership, sanctions and licensing.
- Form
- Flakes or cast charges
- Packaging
- UN-certified, Class 1.1D or 4.1
- Documentation
- CoA and SDS with every batch
- Terms
- FOB · CFR · CIF, under export licence
Identity
Chemical Identity
Reference data for the substance in its standard state.
- Other names
- Trinitrotoluene; tolite; trotyl
- IUPAC name
- 2-Methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene
- Chemical formula
- C₇H₅N₃O₆
- Molar mass
- 227.13 g/mol
- CAS number
- 118-96-7
- EC number
- 204-289-6
- UN number
- UN 0209 or UN 1356, by form
- Appearance
- Pale yellow flakes, granules or cast solid
- Density
- 1.65 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 80.35 °C
- Solubility in water
- 0.13 g/L at 20 °C
Grades
Forms
TNT is supplied as flakes for melt-cast loading, or as cast charges to the buyer's drawing. Type I and Type II in MIL-DTL-248 are distinguished mainly by solidification point and crystal form.
- Flakes
- Melt-cast feed
- Light yellow to dark yellow flakes. Typical Type I solidification point is 80.2 °C or higher. Average flake thickness is held to 0.635 mm or less, with no flake thicker than 1.016 mm, where the producer certifies to that limit.
- Cast charges
- To drawing
- Cast TNT, including booster charges, sourced to the buyer's mass and dimensions. A typical booster form is 400 g, 90–120 mm diameter and 30–40 mm thick, at a density of about 1.35–1.61 g/cm³.
Specification
Typical Specification Parameters
The limits below are typical of military-grade TNT. Each supply is certified against the specification agreed with the buyer.
Identity and purity
- Appearance
- Cast charges or flakes
- Colour
- Light yellow to dark yellow
- Solidification point
- ≥ 80.2 °C
- Moisture and volatiles
- ≤ 0.10%
- Acidity, as H₂SO₄
- ≤ 0.02%
- Insoluble matter
- ≤ 0.05% in acetone, benzene or toluene
- Sodium
- ≤ 0.001%
- Shelf life
- 20 years or more, where the producer certifies it
Flakes and cast charges
- Average flake thickness
- ≤ 0.635 mm
- Maximum flake thickness
- ≤ 1.016 mm
- Typical booster mass
- 400 g
- Cast density
- 1.35–1.61 g/cm³
- Typical booster diameter
- 90–120 mm
- Typical booster thickness
- 30–40 mm
Each supply is certified against the specification agreed with the buyer.
Quality
Documentation and Acceptance
-
Certificate of analysis
Each batch ships with a CoA covering, as the buyer specifies: appearance, colour, solidification point, moisture, acidity, insoluble matter, sodium, flake thickness and, for cast charges, mass and dimensions.
-
Incoming inspection alignment
Acceptance criteria, rejection limits and retest arrangements are agreed in the contract, aligned with the buyer's incoming inspection procedure.
-
Safety data sheet
The safety data sheet for the supplied grade accompanies every batch and is available to verified buyers before order.
Logistics
Packaging and Transport
- Packaging
- Packed to the buyer's requirement in sealed UN-certified packaging: fibre drums or boxes with polyethylene liners for flakes; individual wrapping and outer UN packaging for cast charges. Palletised for road, rail and sea transport under ADR, RID and IMDG.
- Transport classification
- Dry TNT, or TNT wetted with less than 30% water, is typically UN 0209, Class 1.1D. Material wetted with at least 30% water may be assigned UN 1356, Class 4.1. Classification is confirmed per batch with the transport documentation.
- Transport modes
- Volume shipments move by road and sea with licensed explosives carriers. Air freight is tightly restricted under IATA and is used only where the classification and the airline permit it.
Commercial
Commercial Terms
- Minimum order
- Quoted per requirement.
- Lead time
- Quoted per requirement. Lead time is governed largely by export authorisation in the producer's country.
- Incoterms
- FOB, CFR or CIF.
- Payment
- Settled through independent, regulated banks against agreed delivery conditions.
- Country of origin
- Disclosed to verified counterparties.
Safety
Hazard Identification
Typical GHS classification of dry TNT. Wetted material may carry a different transport class. The safety data sheet for the supplied grade governs.
-
GHS01 Explosive
-
GHS06 Toxic
-
GHS08 Health hazard
-
GHS09 Environment
- Signal word
- Danger
- H201
- Explosive; mass explosion hazard
- H301
- Toxic if swallowed
- H311
- Toxic in contact with skin
- H331
- Toxic if inhaled
- H373
- May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure
- H411
- Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Compliance
Export Controls and End Use
- Controlled good
- TNT is a controlled item under military and dual-use export control lists. Supply proceeds under export authorisation in the producer's country and, where Onyx arranges supply between third countries, under UK trade-control licensing.
- End-user documentation
- An end-user certificate signed by the end user, in the format prescribed by the producer's export authority, is obtained and verified before any commitment is made, with delivery verification where the licence requires it. Counterparties, end users and destinations are screened in line with the firm's compliance policy.
Enquiries
Specifying a Requirement
A complete requirement allows a producer to be matched and a quotation prepared in one pass. Include as much of the following as applies.
- Form required: flakes, granules or cast charges, with drawings for cast items
- Solidification point, moisture, acidity and insoluble-matter limits
- Flake-thickness limits, if flakes are specified
- Any recognised standard the producer must certify to
- Order quantity and expected annual volume
- Certificate of analysis content and incoming inspection criteria
- Packaging and palletisation requirements
- Delivery timeline, preferred Incoterms (FOB, CFR or CIF) and destination port
- End user and end use, with end-user documentation available on request
Send a Requirement
Send the specification, quantities, delivery timeline, preferred Incoterms and destination. Enquiries are handled in confidence.