| Mannitol hexanitrate | |
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(2R,3R,4R,5R)-Hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexanitrate |
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Other names
mannitol hexanitrate, nitromannite, nitromannitol, nitranitol, mannitrin |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 15825-70-4 |
| PubChem | 61818 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C6H8N6O18 |
| Molar mass | 452.15712 |
| Density | 1.604 g/cc |
| Melting point |
112 °C = 234 °F |
| (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 | |
Mannitol hexanitrate is a powerful explosive. Physically, it is a powdery solid at normal temperature ranges, with density 1.6g/cc. The chemical name is hexanitromannitol and it is also known by nitromannite, MHN, nitromannitol, nitranitol, or mannitrin. It is less stable than nitroglycerin, and it is used in detonators.
Mannitol hexanitrate is a secondary explosive formed by the nitration of mannitol, a sugar alcohol. The product is used in medicine as a vasodilator and as an explosive in blasting caps. Its sensitivity is considerably high, particularly at high temperatures (>75 °C) where it is more sensitive than nitroglycerine.
It has the highest brisance of any known conventional explosive, even more than nitroglycerine.