| 1,2,4-Butanetriol trinitrate | |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 6659-60-5 |
| ChemSpider | 455532 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C4H7N3O9 |
| Molar mass | 241.11 g/mol |
| Melting point |
250k |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
1,2,4-Butanetriol trinitrate (BTTN), also called butanetriol trinitrate, is an important military propellant. It is a colorless to brown explosive liquid.
BTTN is used as a propellant in virtually all single-stage missiles used by the United States, including the Hellfire. It is less volatile, less sensitive to shock, and more thermally stable than nitroglycerine, for which it is a promising replacement.
BTTN as a propellant is often used in a mixture with nitroglycerin. The mixture can be made by conitration of butanetriol and glycerol. BTTN is also used as a plasticizer in some nitrocellulose based propellants.
BTTN is manufactured by nitration of 1,2,4-butanetriol. Biotechnological manufacture of butanetriol is under intensive research.