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Casting TNT as an explosive

Nature Chemistry volume 15, page 1480 (2023)Cite this article

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Few explosives are better-known to non-chemists than trinitrotoluene (TNT). Thomas M. Klapötke reflects on the enduring appeal of TNT and whether its starring role as an explosive is nearing its end.

It is 160 years since the discovery of TNT in 1863 by Julius Wilbrand2, who reacted toluene with a nitric acid–sulfuric acid mixture at elevated temperature. However, it was not until nearly 30 years later in 1891 when industrial-scale production of TNT commenced3. Nowadays, the annual industrial production of TNT by Europe’s biggest producer NITRO-CHEM (based in Poland) has increased to 5,000 tonnes per year. Even so, it is still predominantly used by the military.

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  1. Energetic Materials Research, Department of Chemistry, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany

    Thomas M. Klapötke

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  1. Thomas M. Klapötke
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Correspondence to Thomas M. Klapötke.

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Klapötke, T.M. Casting TNT as an explosive. Nat. Chem. 15, 1480 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01337-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01337-4

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