Spear Robert J. etc. 1-Methyl-5-Nitrotetrazole and 2-Methyl-5-Nitrotetrazole. Part 2. Assessment of Their Potential as Initiating Explosives: Mechanical, Electrostatic and Thermal Sensitivity, and Explosive Properties

Spear Robert J., Elischer Paul P., Bird Roy . — Melbourne: Department of Defence Materials Research Laboratories, 1980. — 33 p.1-Methyl-5-nitrotetrazole and 2-methyl-5-nitrotetrazole have been assessed as initiating explosives. Although isomers, they exhibit markedly different thermal and explosive properties. 2 is an energetic material with properties both of primary and secondary explosives. It exhibits sensitivity to mechanical and electrostatic shock comparable with primary explosives but does not ignite to explosion when unconfined. When confined, it burns to a powertul explosion but this explosion does not proceed to detonation nor will it detonate even sensitive secondary explosives. 2 will detonate when initiated by lead azide. In contrast, 1 possesses similar mechanical sensitivity to 2 but is difficult to initiate by hot wire and then only undergoes an explosion with low power output.