Germans began producing it before World War II, when it was demonstrated to be an erosion and flash-reducing agent in smokeless powders.

It is a liquid explosive with properties similar to nitroglycerin, but more stable to heat.

TMETN can be initiated by friction, impact, and electrostatic discharge.

It can be used as a high-viscosity plasticizer-binder together with nitrocellulose, but its poor colloidal properties has made such use rare.

Long-term milling can however assist here; success can also be achieved by adding an inert plasticizer and a volatile solvent/colloidal agent.