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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Physical & Chemical properties

Appearance / physical state / colour

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Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

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Endpoint:
appearance / physical state / colour
Type of information:
not specified
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
no data
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
data from handbook or collection of data
Remarks:
Data comes from a handbook, cited in a secondary source. No guideline is required. The substance is adequately identified, but without purity. Therefore validity applies with restrictions.
Qualifier:
no guideline required
Physical state at 20°C and 1013 hPa:
solid
Form:
solid: crystalline
Remarks:
triclinic structure
Colour:
Yellow-brown
Substance type:
organic
Executive summary:

Some properties of TATB are presented in this publication, cited from a handbook. The substance is described as a yellow-brown solid, with a triclinic crystalline structure.

Endpoint:
appearance / physical state / colour
Type of information:
not specified
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
data from handbook or collection of data

bright yellow crystals

Endpoint:
appearance / physical state / colour
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
test procedure in accordance with generally accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
Qualifier:
no guideline required
Principles of method if other than guideline:
visual assessment

The color-changing of TATB appears on it's surface; it changes quickly under illumination.

After been illuminated (under natural light), free radicals appeared on the molecular structure of yellow TATB. The -NO2 group is excited, and activation energy decrease, which lead to reduction of fusing point, decomposition point and the explosion point.

We also observed from experiments that the color-changing of TATB occurs only after illumination. And it's color keep the same after 48h at 120°C basicly. After 2h at 200°C, it's color changes from yellow to light brown. The color of green TATB becomes deeper, which indicates that the high temperature will cause color change of TATB.

Executive summary:

After being illuminated, the color of the explosive will change, from yellow to green, caused by structure changing.

Endpoint:
appearance / physical state / colour
Type of information:
not specified
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Reliability:
4 (not assignable)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
secondary literature

TATB exhibits both monoclinic and triclinic crystal structures.

Endpoint:
appearance / physical state / colour
Type of information:
not specified
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Reliability:
4 (not assignable)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
secondary literature

Triclinic and monoclinic crystalline forms.

Optical Effects:

TATB is yellow and turns to shades of green when exposed to radiation from visible, ultraviolet (UV), electromagnetic, gamma, or 60Co sources.

The green color of TATB is caused by formation of an electronically excited state rather than by a new chemical species. The color varies from yellow-green to deep green to nearly black or brown-green. TATB turns dark yellow-brown on exposure to elevated temperatures. (Cady, 1961, Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Executive summary:

The color varies from yellow to deep green, to brown-black when exposed to radiations or heating.

Description of key information

Yellow crystals.

Color may turn to green or brown if exposed to light or heating.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Physical state at 20°C and 1013 hPa:
solid

Additional information

Several literature sources provide a consistent description of the substance. The most recent review was considered as key data.

Supporting information on crystal structure and color changes is also available.