Editing Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (section)

===In mixtures===
PETN is used in a number of compositions. It is a major ingredient of the [[Semtex]] [[plastic explosive]]. It is also used as a component of [[pentolite]], a castable mixture with TNT (usually 50/50 but may contain more TNT), which is, along with pure PETN, a common explosive for boosters for the [[Drilling and blasting|blasting work]] (as in [[mining]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Bruce A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qJJrYnpT2pYC&pg=PA547 |title=Surface Mining, Second Edition |date=1990 |publisher=SME |isbn=978-0-87335-102-7 |pages=547 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rustan |first=Agne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=idsQOABCipMC&pg=PA33 |title=Rock Blasting Terms and Symbols: A Dictionary of Symbols and Terms in Rock Blasting and Related Areas like Drilling, Mining and Rock Mechanics |date=1998 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-90-5410-441-4 |pages=33 |language=en}}</ref> The XTX8003 extrudable explosive, used in the [[W68]] and [[W76]] nuclear warheads, is a mixture of 80% PETN and 20% of Sylgard 182, a [[silicone rubber]].<ref>{{cite tech report |last1=Shepodd | first1=T | last2=Behrens | first2=R | last3=Anex | first3=D | last4=Miller | first4=D | last5=Anderson | first5=K |date=1997-07-01 |title= Degradation chemistry of PETN and its homologues |institution= Sandia National Laboratory |number= SAND-97-8684C | osti=650196 | url=https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/650196 | access-date= May 14, 2023}}</ref> It is often [[phlegmatized]] by addition of 5–40% of [[wax]], or by polymers (producing [[polymer-bonded explosive]]s); in this form it is used in some cannon shells up to [[30 mm caliber]], though it is unsuitable for higher calibers. <!-- why? --> It is also used as a component of some gun [[propellant]]s and [[solid rocket propellant]]s. Nonphlegmatized PETN is stored and handled with approximately 10% water content. PETN alone cannot be [[casting|cast]] as it explosively decomposes slightly above its melting point,{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}{{clarify|date=September 2016}} but it can be mixed with other explosives to form castable mixtures.

PETN can be initiated by a [[laser]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Tarzhanov | first1 = V. I. | last2 = Zinchenko | first2 = A. D. | last3 = Sdobnov | first3 = V. I. | last4 = Tokarev | first4 = B. B. | last5 = Pogrebov | first5 = A. I. | last6 = Volkova | first6 = A. A. | title = Laser initiation of PETN | journal = Combustion, Explosion, and Shock Waves | volume = 32 | issue = 4 | page = 454 | year = 1996 | doi = 10.1007/BF01998499| bibcode = 1996CESW...32..454T | s2cid = 98083192 }}</ref> A pulse with duration of 25 nanoseconds and 0.5–4.2 joules of energy from a [[Q-switching|Q-switched]] [[ruby laser]] can initiate detonation of a PETN surface coated with a 100&nbsp;nm thick aluminium layer in less than half of a microsecond.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}

PETN has been replaced in many applications by [[RDX]], which is thermally more stable and has a longer [[shelf life]].<ref>US Army – Encyclopedia of Explosives and Related Items, vol.8</ref> PETN can be used in some [[ram accelerator]] types.<ref>[http://fluid.ippt.gov.pl/ictam04/CD_ICTAM04/FM3/12843/FM3_12843.pdf Simulation of ram accelerator with PETN layer], Arkadiusz Kobiera and Piotr Wolanski, XXI ICTAM, August 15–21, 2004, Warsaw, Poland</ref> Replacement of the central carbon atom with [[silicon]] produces Si-PETN, which is extremely sensitive.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.wag.caltech.edu/publications/sup/pdf/806.pdf|title=Explanation of the Colossal Detonation Sensitivity of Silicon Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (Si-PETN) Explosive|author=Wei-Guang Liu|journal=J. Am. Chem. Soc.|year=2009|volume=131|pages=7490–1|doi=10.1021/ja809725p|pmid=19489634|issue=22|bibcode=2009JAChS.131.7490L |display-authors=etal|access-date=January 3, 2010|archive-date=March 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192503/http://www.wag.caltech.edu/publications/sup/pdf/806.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://comporgchem.com/blog/?p=258 Computational Organic Chemistry » Si-PETN sensitivity explained]. Comporgchem.com (July 20, 2009). Retrieved 2010-02-08.</ref>