"Research Department eXplosive" or "Royal Demolition eXplosive" is the full form of RDX. It is an explosive substance related to nitramines, a category of organic nitrate explosives. It is also labeled as hexogen, cyclonite and T4. RDX's chemical name and chemical formulas are Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine and C3H6N6O6, respectively.
RDX is a solid, hard white crystalline substance, insoluble in water and slightly soluble in some solvents. Sensitive to percussion, its main non-military use is in detonators. RDX sensitivity can be reduced by combining with other substances.
History
It was invented by Georg Friedrich Henning of Germany and patented in 1898.
But it was never used until World War 2, when most belligerent powers first adopted this RDX.
Through the secret process developed in the United States and Canada, RDX was synthesized on the large scale in the United States.
Characteristics
- RDX are solid crystals in nature, white in color.
- RDX is a strong, tasteless substance
- It is insoluble in water and poorly soluble in most common solvents
- The molecular weight of the RDX is 222.12 g/mol.
- RDX decomposes at 213oC and the melting point of RDX is 205.5oC.