Pentaerythritol tetranitrate

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), also known as PENT, PENTA, TEN, corpent, penthrite (or — rarely and primarily in German — as nitropenta) is one of the most powerful high explosives known. It has  a relative effectiveness factor (R.E. factor) of 1.66. PETN can be used as a plastic explosive.Jsu, Spencer, S., "Equipment to detect explosives is available,"The Washington Post, December 28, 2009, accessed January 9, 2010The Big Question: Will body scanners in airports reduce the threat from terrorism? - Big Question, Extras . The Independent. Retrieved on 2010-02-08.Analysis: Similar explosive on plane used in Saudi attack - CNN.com . Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved on 2010-02-08.Revkin, Andrew C.. (1996-08-30) Crash Simulation Sets T.W.A. Blast In One Small Area. NYTimes.com. Retrieved on 2010-02-08. PETN can also be use as a  drug to treat certain heart conditions, such as angina pectoris. In this context, it helps widening blood vessels, which is known as vasodilatation. PETN is among the most widely used substances for vasodilatation.

It is the nitrate ester of pentaerythritol (related pages, nitrate, ester). It has a chemical structure that is very similar to nitroglycerin.

References

Category:Explosives
Category:Drugs
Category:Nitrate esters