Registration Dossier

Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets

Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Melting point / freezing point

Currently viewing:

Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Referenceopen allclose all

Endpoint:
melting point/freezing point
Type of information:
not specified
Adequacy of study:
weight of evidence
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. The substance is adequately identified, but without purity.
Qualifier:
no guideline followed
Principles of method if other than guideline:
No data
Melting / freezing pt.:
350 °C
Decomposition:
yes

Lack of a distinct melting point.

Executive summary:

Some properties of TATB are presented in this publication, cited from a handbook. A melting point value of 350°C, with decomposition, is given for the substance.

Endpoint:
melting point/freezing point
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
weight of evidence
Study period:
no data
Reliability:
4 (not assignable)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
secondary literature
Remarks:
Data comes from a review publication, as a secondary source citing various references. Test conditions are not specified. The substance is adequately identified, but without purity. Therefore validity cannot be granted.
Qualifier:
no guideline followed
Principles of method if other than guideline:
no data for most sources; a DSC thermogram is available, but test conditions are not specified
Melting / freezing pt.:
> 300 °C
Decomposition:
yes
Decomp. temp.:
>= 350 °C

There is strong evidence of inter-and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. These strong hydrogen bonds induce a strong dipole-dipole van der Waals–Keesom force and affect properties such as boiling and melting points, which are evident in TATB. [Agrawal, 1998]

Melts above 573 K but decomposes above 623.15 K [Meyer et al., 2002], 712 K [Toghiani et al., 2008].

The melting point as [Zeman, 1993], in his differential calorimetric studies on TATB and other compounds, found that TATB starts to decompose at different temperatures depending on the heating cycle. He also quotes a melting point of 603 K based on the work of [Bell et al., 1987].

TATB starts decomposing close to the melting point. [Agrawal, 1998, 2005]

The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) thermogram [Talawar et al., 2006] shows that TATB exothermic decomposing temperature lies between 360 and 390°C, with the maximum peak in 385°C, indicating its excellent thermal stability and heat resistance. No endotherm is observed.

Executive summary:

Some properties of TATB are presented in this review publication, cited from various sources. No clear melting point value is given for the substance, decomposition occurs from 350°C.

Endpoint:
melting point/freezing point
Type of information:
not specified
Adequacy of study:
weight of evidence
Study period:
no data
Reliability:
4 (not assignable)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
secondary literature
Remarks:
Data comes from a publication, as a secondary source citing the raw value. Test conditions are not specified. The substance is adequately identified, but without purity. Therefore validity cannot be granted.
Principles of method if other than guideline:
no data
Melting / freezing pt.:
>= 594 - <= 599 K
Executive summary:

A melting range of 321 - 326°C is cited for secondary source (raw data).

Endpoint:
melting point/freezing point
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
weight of evidence
Study period:
no data
Reliability:
4 (not assignable)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
secondary literature
Remarks:
Data comes from a review publication, as a secondary source citing various references. Test conditions are not specified. The substance is adequately identified, but without purity. Therefore validity cannot be granted.
Qualifier:
no guideline followed
Principles of method if other than guideline:
no data for most sources; one of the result was determined with a capillary method
Remarks on result:
not determinable

Strong hydrogen bonding is indicated by the lack of a distinct melting point.

Jackson and Wing (1888) determined that TATB decomposes without melting at about 360°C.

In 1961, studies by Urizar at LANL indicated that TATB sublimed at >=300°C and decomposed without melting at 325 to 350°C, leaving a solid residue; TATB was not fusible. Others determined melting points at:

330°C (O’ Keefe and Gurule, 1977)

360°C, d = 1.934 g/cm3, (Taylor, 1956)

>370°C by Thomas Hoover Capillary Melting Point Apparatus with 2°/min heating rate (Kayser, 1983)

Executive summary:

Some properties of TATB are presented in this review publication, cited from various sources. No clear melting point value is given for the substance, which undergoes decomposition.

Endpoint:
melting point/freezing point
Type of information:
not specified
Adequacy of study:
weight of evidence
Study period:
no data
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
data from handbook or collection of data
Principles of method if other than guideline:
no data
Melting / freezing pt.:
350 °C
Decomposition:
yes

melting point: 350 °C = 600 °F (decomp.)

Executive summary:

The handbook provides some physico-chemical properties on explosive substances. A melting point value of 350°C, with decomposition, is given for TATB.

Description of key information

No melting up to 300°C, followed by decomposition.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

No experimental study is available for the substance.

From several secondary literature sources, in a Weight-of-Evidence approach, the melting point is unclear, with values ranging between ca 320 and 390°C. However, no transition is observed below 300°C, and decomposition occurs above this temperature. Therefore, no key data is retained.

It should also be noted that conformational/structural changes may occur in TATB, which may explain the different values.