Tritonal
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/RAF_Bomber_Command_HU95286.jpg/220px-RAF_Bomber_Command_HU95286.jpg)
A 4,000 lb (1.8 t) blockbuster bomb being loaded onto a De Havilland Mosquito of the RAF, circa 1944. The explosive filling of Tritonal 80/20 is clearly stencilled on the side, inside the chalked "O" of Adolf
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/M117_bomb.jpg/220px-M117_bomb.jpg)
A 750 lb (340 kg) M117 bomb. The explosive filling of Tritonal is stencilled on the nose
Tritonal is a mixture of 80% TNT and 20% aluminium powder, used in several types of ordnance such as air-dropped bombs. The aluminium improves the total heat output and hence impulse of the TNT — the length of time during which the blast wave is positive. Tritonal is approximately 18% more powerful than TNT alone.[1]
The 87 kg of tritonal in a Mark 82 bomb has the potential to produce approximately 863 MJ of energy when detonated.[1] This implies an energy density of approximately 9MJ/kg, compared to ~4MJ/kg for TNT.
Details[]
Tritonal has a molecular formula of C7H5AlN3O6+3. Its molecular weight is 254.11 g/mol.[2]
References[]
- ^ a b Maienschein, J. L. (July 8, 2002). "Estimating Equivalency of Explosives Through A Thermochemical Approach" (PDF).
- ^ "Tritonal". PubChem. PubChem. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
See also[]
- Torpex
- Composition H6
- Minol
- Relative effectiveness factor (RE)
Categories:
- Explosives