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Introduction To High Explosives

about explosive that are use in mining and the use of aluminium in explosives as iniciator, etc.

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Cristian Gonzales
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232 views3 pages

Introduction To High Explosives

about explosive that are use in mining and the use of aluminium in explosives as iniciator, etc.

Uploaded by

Cristian Gonzales
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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High explosives are substances that detonate.

This is to say that the substance, when suitably


initiated, breaks down in a very violent manner, liberating vast quantities of heat and energy in a very
short time. In fact it occurs in such a short time that the inertia of anything in its path has no time to be
overcome thus the object is destroyed. Not moved. This breakdown occurs in a wave that passes
through the substance in a linear fashion from the point of initiation. The wave is not a burning. It is a
molecular breakdown of the substance into its constituent parts. It is not occurring on the surface. It
occurs within the material. In the explosion of nitrate and nitro oxidisable explosives, nitrogen is set
free in the elementary form and the oxygen combines with the oxidisable elements, forming great
volumes of gases (CO, CO2, H20 [in vapour form]) and a large amount of heat. All explosion
reactions are highly exothermic. Those hot gases occupy a volume 10,000 to 15,000 times as large as
the volume of the original explosive. For a short time those hot gasses occupy the original volume of
the explosive. They want to expand and they do. The temperature of the explosion may be 3000C and
over. When metals are present in explosives, the heat of formation of the metal oxides contributes to
further expansion of the hot gasses.

Some explosives groups, eg the Azide group, contain no oxygen. Therefore in the explosion of Lead
Azide the only gas produced is nitrogen. Heat of explosion, maximum temperature of explosion,
volume of explosion products and pressure developed in a closed chamber are the chief factors related
to the total energy of an explosive. However, the effectiveness of an explosive is related directly to the
rate at which its energy is released. The rate of detonation of a high explosive is a measure of its
"brisance" and is therefore of great significance.

ALUMINIUM IN EXPLOSIVES
As far back as 1897 the suggestion was made to include Aluminium in explosives to increase the blast
effect. This is brought about because the oxidation of the Aluminium during the explosion is a highly
exothermic and therefore adds considerably to blast. A problem arises in that Aluminium tends to
settle out during manufacture and to overcome this the substance carbon black is added to the mixture,
the wetting agent lecithin also has the effect of controlling settling out. Aluminium explosives also
tend to produce hydrogen gas because the residual moisture in the explosive reacts with the
Aluminium forming Aluminium oxides and liberating hydrogen.
Ammunition so filled needs to be fitted with vent plugs. EG Torpedoes, aircraft bombs etc.
High explosives are divided into three groups...

INITIATORS

INTERMEDIARIES

MAIN FILLINGS

One of the design problems that manufacturers of projectiles meet is the need to propel from a
weapon, a large mass of High Explosive inside a shell. To achieve this, the shell and the explosive
filling are subjected to some very violent shocks and accelerations. Subjecting a large mass of very
violent explosive to these forces is asking for the explosive to detonate at the moment of firing unless
the main filling is selected for its lack of sensitivity. Here is the catch, if the filling is insensitive
enough to be projected from a Gun then how do you get it to detonate when the time is right? The
answer of course is to fill the shell with a quite insensitive explosive and to provide an intermediate
step between the main filling and the initiation system. (This arrangement is called an Explosive train
qv.) These explosives are termed "Intermediaries" They are contained in metal capsules somewhat
larger than those used for initiators because they are less sensitive.

PICRIC POWDER
This is a mixture of
Ammonium Picrate
Potassium Nitrate

43 parts
57

The F of I is 85 to 87

COMPOSITION EXPLODING (CE)


This explosive is named Trinitrophenyl-methyl-nitramine. The F of I is 70. It has been used very
extensively as a magazine filling in British and Australian artillery ammunition. Its more common
name comes from the original war time code name given to it to preserve secrecy.

TNT Crystals
This is TNT in a very high grade of purity and because of the crystalline state it has a lower F of I
than when in the cast state. The F of I is ?

PICRIC ACID
This intermediary was used in some large calibre shells such as 15inch A.P.C. and it has been widely
used as an intermediary in German shells and bombs. This particular explosive has been extensively
used as a main filling during the First World War. It is not now used in military HE fillings.

Bearing in mind the above, it follows that main fillings are selected with several conflicting
requirements in mind.

It needs to be powerful and violent.

It needs to be insensitive to normal shocks.

It needs to be stable in storage.

It should not be affected by extremes of temperature.

It should not react with metals.

It should be easily loaded to high densities.

It should give smoke on bursting.

It follows that no explosive will meet all these requirements so as with all things, compromise is the
name of the game.

SOME BASIC MAIN FILLINGS


P.E.T.N.
Is an extremely violent and powerful explosive that is too sensitive to be used alone and is usually
mixed with a less sensitive explosive, or wax. It is known as Penthrite and its proper name is Pentaerythritol-tetranitrate. Its power figure is 166. Its F of I is 50, its V of D is 8300 metres per second. It
is used extensively as the core filling in detonating cords and the filling for magazines and Gaines.
PENTOLITE
Is a mixture of P.E.T.N. and TNT, the usual proportion being 50/50
RDX
Another very powerful and violent explosive that is too sensitive to be used alone. It is usually mixed
with wax or TNT. It is also one of the most popular explosives in use in military circles.
HMX
This explosive was discovered by accident when the filters being used in the production of RDX were
examined. What was found were crystals of an unusual shape that had adhered to the filter.
Examination of these crystals showed them to be a denser version of RDX with a greater molecular
weight. It comes in four different crystalline forms with the first Alpha being the most stable. It was
given the name of High Molecular weight X hence HMX. It has the great drawback of being four
times more expensive to make than RDX.

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