Ä Area: Anarcy ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
  Msg#: 47                                           Date: 10-08-94  17:03
  From: Cap'n Morgan                                 Read: Yes    Replied: No 
    To: All Psychotics                               Mark:                     
  Subj: RDX
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
Since there seems to be an interest, I thought I'd share a little knowledge...

Manufacturing RDX

RDX can be manufactured by the nitration of hexamethylenetetramine, which 
results from the reaction of formaldehyde and ammonia.

1. Slowly add one part by weight of hexamethylenetetramine to 11 parts of 100%
   nitric acid, while maintaining the temperature of the nitric acid at or 
   below 30 degrees celsius and stirring vigorously. The reaction proceeds 
   according to the following equation:

   C6H12N4+3HNO3->3HCHO+NH3+(CH2NNO2)3

 When this mixture is allowed to stand, the nitric acid oxidizes the 
formaldehyde (HCHO), which is liberated by the reaction.

2. After letting it cool to 0 degrees celsius, stir the mixture for 20 minutes
   more and then drown in ice water. The resulting rupture and degradation of 
   the hexamethylenetetramine molecule form numerous aliphatic and cyclic 
   nitro-compounds (impurities) that make up crude RDX.

3. Catch this crude RDX on a filter and wash with water to remove most of the 
   acid. It is important to remove all but a trace of acid.

4. Purify by grinding the wet material then treating with boiling water.

Of course, RDX is highly sensitive, so be careful. Still, this could liven up 
chemistry class a bit, I'm sure...