Trinitrotoluene (TNT) as a military explosive
Trinitrotolueno (TNT) como explosivo militar
- Date
- 1863 (síntesis) / 1902 (uso militar) · confidence medium
- Place
- Germany
- Credited to
- Julius Wilbrand (synthesis); German army (adoption)
- Field
- Conflict
What it is
A nitro compound, first synthesised in 1863 as a dye, that is very stable, does not react with metal and melts safely. Germany adopted it as a shell filling in 1902, and it became the benchmark military explosive of the 20th century.
Its explosive property was not recognised until 1891 (Carl Häussermann) because it was so insensitive; Wilbrand's synthesis was a dye preparation and the exact city is not documented here.
What it led to
- shells and bombs of the First and Second World Wars
- TNT equivalent as a unit of explosive energy
- modern mining and demolition