Triethylene glycol dinitrate (TEGDN) is a nitrated

Nitration

Nitration is a general chemical process for the introduction of a nitro group into a chemical compound. The dominant application of nitration is for the production of nitrobenzene, the precursor to methylene diphenyl diisocyanate...

 alcohol

Alcohol

In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....

 ester

Ester

Esters are chemical compounds derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as an alcohol or phenol. Esters are usually derived from an inorganic acid or organic acid in which at least one -OH group is replaced by an -O-alkyl group, and most commonly from carboxylic acids and...

 of triethylene glycol

Triethylene glycol

Triethylene glycol, TEG, or triglycol is a colorless odorless viscous liquid with molecular formula HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH. It is used as a plasticizer for vinyl. It is also used in air sanitizer products, such as "Oust" or "Clean and Pure." When aerosolized it acts as a disinfectant...

. It is used as an energetic plasticizer

Plasticizer

Plasticizers or dispersants are additives that increase the plasticity or fluidity of the material to which they are added; these include plastics, cement, concrete, wallboard, and clay. Although the same compounds are often used for both plastics and concretes the desired effects and results are...

 in explosives and propellant

Propellant

A propellant is a material that produces pressurized gas that:* can be directed through a nozzle, thereby producing thrust ;...

s. Its chemical formula is O₂N-O-CH₂CH₂-O-CH₂CH₂-O-CH₂CH₂-O-NO₂. It is a pale yellow oily liquid. It is somewhat similar to nitroglycerin.

TEGDN is often used together with trimethylolethane trinitrate

Trimethylolethane trinitrate

Trimethylolethane trinitrate , also known as metriol trinitrate or nitropentaglycerin, is a nitro ester. It is a high explosive similar to nitroglycerin. It is a transparent oily liquid, colorless to light brown. It is odorless. It is used in some solid propellants and smokeless powders as a...

 (TMETN).

Triethylene glycol dinitrate, diethylene glycol dinitrate

Diethylene glycol dinitrate

Diethylene glycol dinitrate is a nitrated alcohol ester produced by the action of concentrated nitric acid, normally admixed with an excess of strong sulfuric acid as a dehydrating agent, upon diethylene glycol....

, and trimethyloleate trinitrate are being considered as replacements for nitroglycerin in propellants.