Erythritol tetranitrate (ETN) is an explosive compound chemically similar to PETN,[1] though it is thought to be slightly more sensitive to friction and impact.

Like many nitrate esters, ETN acts as a vasodilator, and was the active ingredient in the original "sustained release" tablets, made under a process patent in the early 1950s, called "nitroglyn".

[citation needed] Ingesting ETN or prolonged skin contact can lead to absorption and what is known as a "nitro headache".

Studies that directly observed the crystalline structure saw no signs of decomposition after four years of storage at room temperature.

ETN will precipitate as big platelets with bulk density of about 0.3 g/cm3 (fluffy material) when the ETN/ethanol solution is quickly poured into several liters of cold water.

No reports of runaway reactions leading to explosion have been confirmed (when melt-casting using only a bucket of warm water and recrystallized ETN).

However, the handling sensitivity in molten state is extremely poor (e. g., much worse than acetone peroxide) and it makes melt-casting it impractical for commercial applications.

[5][9][10] Mixtures of melt-cast ETN with PETN (about 50:50% by weight) are about the most brisant explosives that can be produced by moderately equipped amateurs.

[citation needed] Note that explosion modeling software and experimental tests will yield absolute detonation pressures that can vary by 5% or more with the relative proportions being maintained.

Melt-cast ETN gives invalid results in the Hess test, i.e. the deformation is greater than 26 mm, with the lead cylinder being completely destroyed.