Hazards in the Manufacture of RDX and HMX

Manufacture of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) by the modified Bachmann process involves the nitrolysis of hexamine in glacial acetic acid with a solution of ammonium nitratein nitric acid, in the presence of excess of acetic anhydride. Fire, explosion and toxic hazards during the manfacture of these explosives are reviewed and discussed