cyclonite Chem.
(ˈsaɪklənaɪt)
[f. cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine.]
A colourless crystalline substance, (CH2·N·NO2)3, used as a high explosive; also called RDX.
| 1923 Chem. Abstr. XVII. 2051 A description is given of the characteristics of..cyclonite..for use as ‘booster’. 1939 Thorpe's Dict. Appl. Chem. (ed. 4) III. 535/2 Cyclonite..was first described under the name ‘Hexogen’ in 1899 by G. F. Henning. 1948 Times 10 Jan. 4/2 Cyclonite..has approximately the strength of dynamite. 1951 Kirk & Othmer Encycl. Chem. Technol. VI. 40 Cyclonite, therefore, may be considered at least the equal if not the superior of any other solid bursting-charge explosive available on a production basis. 1966 Millar & Springall Sidgwick's Org. Chem. Nitrogen (ed. 3) xviii. 599 The very powerful military high explosive Cyclonite or RDX..was first prepared by the action of nitric acid (99 per cent) on hexamine. |