4-nitrotoluene

Explosiveness

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

explosive properties of explosives

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: UN F.3 Trauzl Test

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: UN A.1 BAM 50/60 steel tube test (instead of UN 1(a) UN gap test, since this method gives comparable results

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method A.14 (Explosive properties)

Version / remarks:

only Thermal sensitivity (similar to UN 2(b) Koenen Test)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: UN 1 (c)(i) and UN 2 (c)(i) Time / pressure test

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

no

Parameter:

other: More sensitive to shock than m-dinitrobenzene

Remarks on result:

not measured/tested

Parameter:

other: More sensitive to friction than m-dinitrobenzene

Remarks on result:

not measured/tested

Parameter:

other: Explosive under influence of flame

Remarks on result:

negative (not further specified)

Parameter:

other: Explosive (not specified)

Remarks on result:

negative (not further specified)

Summary of UN Test Series 2:

 

4 -nitrotoluene is too insensitive for acceptance into the Class of Explosives, and therefore should not be classified.

 

 

I. Explosive power of the substance (UN F.3 Trauzl Test)

Under high confinement, 4-nitrotoluene has no or low explosive power. Since the result of the Trauzl test is "Low" in one run, tests UN 1 (a) and UN 2 (a) have to be performed, respectively.

 

Table I.1. Test details of UN F3 Trauzl Test

Test run	Sample mass	Cavity Before / after	Lead block expansion per 10 g	Result
1	10.0 g	65.3 ml / 72.3 ml	7.0 ml	"No"
2	10.0 g	64.6 ml / 76.0 ml	11.4 ml	"Low"

 

 

II. Propagation of detonation (UN A.1 BAM 50/60 steel tube test)

4 -nitrotoluene is not able to propagate a detonation. The result of the UN A.1 "Partial" corresponds to a "-" in the sense of the UN 1 (a) test.

From these findings it can be concluded that the outcome of the UN 2 (a) test would be "-" as well since in this test the detonative initiation is attenuated by a PMME spacer. 4 -nitrotoluene is not sensitve to detonative shock.

Table. II.1 Test details of the UN A.1 test

Test run	Sample	Observation	Result
1	1129.4 g 4 -nitrotoluene, liquid Bulk density 1.15 kg/L	Tube fragmented at upper end; fragmented length: 192 mm Substance ejected completely	"Partial"
2	1133.2 g 4 -nitrotoluene, liquid Bulk density 1.15 kg/L	Tube fragmented at upper end; fragmented length: 194 mm Substance ejected completely	"Partial"

 

III. Behaviour when heated under defined confinement (EU A.14 (a) / UN 2 (b) Koenen test)

4 -nitrotoluene shows no violent effect on heating under confinement. (Limiting diameter < 2mm.)

Table III.1 Details of the test EU A.14

Amount of sample	Orifice diameter	TBB / TBE*)	Result
26.6 g	2 mm	48 s / 91 s	"O"
26.6 g	2 mm	47 s / 91 s	"O"
26.6 g	2 mm	47 s / 91 s	"O"
26.6 g	6 mm	46 s / 101 s	"O"
26.6 g	6 mm	48 s / 91 s	"O"
26.6 g	6 mm	48 s / 92 s	"O"

*) Time to beginning of reaction or burning / Time to end of burning
"O": tube unchanged

III. Effects of igniting the substance under confinement (UN 1 (c)(i) and UN 2 (c)(i))

According to the criteria of UN test 1 (c)(i), 4 -nitrotoluene shows no likelihood of deflagration.

Table IV.1. Details on Time/pressure test UN 1 (c)(i)

Test run	Sample amount	Maximum pressure	Time for pressure rise from 690 kPa to 2070 kPa	Result acc. to UN 1 (c)(i)	Result acc. to UN 2 (c)(i)	Remarks
1	5.0 g	1094 kPa	--- ms	"-"	"-"	2070 kPa not reached
2	5.0 g	1063 kPa	--- ms	"-"	"-"	2070 kPa not reached
2	5.0 g	1156 kPa	--- ms	"-"	"-"	2070 kPa not reached

 

Interpretation of results:

GHS criteria not met

Executive summary:

Heitkamp, D. and Keldenich, H.-P. (Currenta), 2009

The acceptance procedure for explosives as in section 10.3 of the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria as been performed for 4-nitrotoluene. Since the result of the Trauzl test (UN F.3) was "Low" (explosive power) in one run, test UN 1 (a) and 2 (a) had to be performed. For practical purposes, the BAM 50/60 steel tube test (UN A.1) was performed instead of the UN 1 (a) test since this method gives comparable results. The results of 2 runs were "Partial", which corresponds to "-" in the sense of UN 1 (a) test. 4-nitrotoluene is not able to propagate a detonation. From these findings it can be concluded the outcome of UN 2 (a) test to be "-" as well. 4-nitrotolene is not sensitve to detonative shock.

In the Koenen test (UN 2 (b)) 4-nitrotoluene showed no violent effect on heating under confinement (limiting diameter < 2 mm).

In the time / pressure test (UN 1 (c)(i) and UN 2 (c)(i) 4-nitrotoluene showed no likelihood of deflagration (maximum pressure reached 1156 kPa). Since the three tests of test series 2 were negative, the summary is: 4-nitrotoluene is too insensitive for acceptance into the Class of Explosives, and therefore should not be classified.

Description of key information

Heitkamp, D. and Keldenich, H.-P. (Currenta), 2009

The acceptance procedure for explosives as in section 10.3 of the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria as been performed for 4-nitrotoluene. Since the result of the Trauzl test (UN F.3) was "Low" (explosive power) in one run, test UN 1 (a) and 2 (a) had to be performed. For practical purposes, the BAM 50/60 steel tube test (UN A.1) was performed instead of the UN 1 (a) test since this method gives comparable results. The results of 2 runs were "Partial", which corresponds to "-" in the sense of UN 1 (a) test. 4-nitrotoluene is not able to propagate a detonation. From these findings it can be concluded the outcome of UN 2 (a) test to be "-" as well. 4-nitrotolene is not sensitve to detonative shock.

In the Koenen test (UN 2 (b)) 4-nitrotoluene showed no violent effect on heating under confinement (limiting diameter < 2 mm).

In the time / pressure test (UN 1 (c)(i) and UN 2 (c)(i) 4-nitrotoluene showed no likelihood of deflagration (maximum pressure reached 1156 kPa). Since the three tests of test series 2 were negative, the summary is: 4-nitrotoluene is too insensitive for acceptance into the Class of Explosives, and therefore should not be classified.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Explosiveness:

non explosive