The United States distinguished highly refined Type A TNT for explosive shell fillings from cruder Type B material used where a less exacting burster charge would suffice. Those grades matched the level of chemical purification to the job a munition had to perform, avoiding the cost of the finest material where it was unnecessary. TNT still required careful storage because it melts at about 81 degrees Celsius, despite its reputation for stability. By the Second World War, German factories produced thousands of tons each month. A once-overlooked dye compound had become a mass-produced explosive whose grades, storage requirements, and output all affected ammunition supply.
Notable Point · 7:35-9:13
TNT grades, storage limits, and wartime production
American grade choices, TNT's low melting point, and German monthly output show how explosives performance depends on purification, storage, and industrial scale.