Nitramines

Nitramine chemicals are organic nitrate explosives. They include:

• RDX, also known as Hexogen or Cyclonite
• HMX (high melting explosive; octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7 tetrazocine)
• nitroguanidine
• tetryl
  • tetrytol is a mixture of TNT and tetryl

Molecules of this class are higher density and have higher molecular weight than other explosives, thus permitting more explosive power in the same space. Less dense molecules are physically adjacent, while the same atoms in nitramines are covalently bonded.

For example, HMX is a large aromatic molecule, with an extra CH₂NNO₂ unit. It has higher density (TMD 1.902) than RDX, 1.806, its detonation velocity is 9.11 km/sec vs. 8.70 for RDX, considered more powerful.