The Daily Molecule

PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate, also known as pentrite, or rarely and primarily in German as nitropenta) is one of the most powerful high explosives known, with a relative effectiveness factor (R.E. factor) of 1.66. It is more sensitive to shock or friction than TNT or tetryl, and it is never used alone as a booster. It is primarily used in booster and bursting charges of small caliber ammunition, in upper charges of detonators in some and mines and shells, and as the explosive core of detonation cord. PETN is also used as a vasodilator, similar to nitroglycerin.

Resources

• Research Shows Explosives Remain Part Of Human Hair

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article PETN.