Hexanitrostilbene

Heat-resistant high explosive
title: "Hexanitrostilbene" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["explosive-chemicals", "nitrobenzene-derivatives", "stilbenoids"] description: "Heat-resistant high explosive" topic_path: "general/explosive-chemicals" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexanitrostilbene" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Heat-resistant high explosive ::
| verifiedrevid = 444343776 | ImageFile = Hexanitrostilbene.svg | ImageSize = 200px | PIN = 1,1′-[(E)-Ethane-1,2-diyl]bis(2,4,6-trinitrobenzene) | OtherNames = 1,2-bis-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-ethylene; hexanitrodiphenylethylene, HNS |Section1={{Chembox Identifiers | ChemSpiderID_Ref = | ChemSpiderID = 10760172 | InChI = 1/C14H6N6O12/c21-15(22)9-5-3-7(11(17(25)26)13(9)19(29)30)1-2-8-4-6-10(16(23)24)14(20(31)32)12(8)18(27)28/h1-6H/b2-1+ | InChIKey = LQXXGLZCVKSCEV-OWOJBTEDBF | StdInChI_Ref = | StdInChI = 1S/C14H6N6O12/c21-15(22)9-5-3-7(11(17(25)26)13(9)19(29)30)1-2-8-4-6-10(16(23)24)14(20(31)32)12(8)18(27)28/h1-6H/b2-1+ | StdInChIKey_Ref = | StdInChIKey = LQXXGLZCVKSCEV-OWOJBTEDSA-N | CASNo_Ref = | CASNo = 20062-22-0 | PubChem = 253628 | UNNumber = 0392 TNT mixtures: 0388, 0389 | SMILES = O=N(=O)C1=CC(N(=O)=O)=C(/C=C/C2=C(N(=O)=O)C=C(N(=O)=O)C=C2N(=O)=O)C(N(=O)=O)=C1 |Section2={{Chembox Properties | Formula = C14H6N6O12 | MolarMass = 450.23 g/mol | Appearance = Yellow crystalline powder | Density = 1.7 g/cm3 | MeltingPtC = 316 | BoilingPt = | Solubility = }} |Section3={{Chembox Hazards | MainHazards = | FlashPt = | AutoignitionPt = }} |Section6={{Chembox Explosive | ShockSens = Low | FrictionSens = Low | DetonationV = 7000 m/s | REFactor = }}
Hexanitrostilbene (HNS), also called JD-X, is an organic compound with the formula [(O2N)3C6H2CH]2. It is a yellow-orange solid. It is used as a heat-resistant high explosive. It is slightly soluble (0.1 - 5 g/100 mL) in butyrolactone, DMF, DMSO, and N-methylpyrrolidone.
Production and use
It is produced by oxidizing trinitrotoluene (TNT) with chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite). HNS boasts a higher insensitivity to heat than TNT, and like TNT it is insensitive to impact. When casting TNT, HNS is added at 0.5% to form erratic micro-crystals within the TNT, which prevent cracking.
Its heat of detonation is 4 kJ/g.
It was developed by the chemist Kathryn Grove Shipp at the U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory in the 1960s and has been improved on since then.
References
References
- Jacques Boileau, Claude Fauquignon, Bernard Hueber and Hans H. Meyer "Explosives" in ''Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry'', 2009, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. {{doi. 10.1002/14356007.a10_143.pub2
- Because of its insensitivity but high explosive properties, HNS is used in space missions. It was the main explosive fill in the [[Vibroseis. seismic source]] generating [[Mortar (weapon). mortar ammunition]] canisters used as part of the [[Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package. Apollo Lunar Active Seismic Experiments]].[http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/documents/NASA%20RP-1036.pdf NASA reference publication]
- [http://publications.drdo.gov.in/gsdl/collect/defences/index/assoc/HASH0181/6881f845.dir/doc.pdf Hexanitrostilbene and Its Properties]{{Dead link. (January 2020)
- Peter Golding, Asoka M. Jayaweera-Bandara, Henry Duffin, "Production of HNS" Patent 5023386. Filed: January 4, 1990.
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