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Explosives

An explosive is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, accompanied by light, heat, sound, and pressure. Explosives include dynamite, grenades, bombs, and incendiary devices. The first explosive was likely black powder, invented in China in the 10th century. Explosives are either low explosives that burn rapidly or high explosives that detonate faster than the speed of sound. Common explosives include TNT, C4, dynamite, and RDX mixtures. Improvised explosive devices are homemade bombs that can incorporate explosives, detonators, and other components. The effects of explosions include blast pressure, heat, secondary fires, and earth/water shock

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John Lloyd Arcilla
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156 views

Explosives

An explosive is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, accompanied by light, heat, sound, and pressure. Explosives include dynamite, grenades, bombs, and incendiary devices. The first explosive was likely black powder, invented in China in the 10th century. Explosives are either low explosives that burn rapidly or high explosives that detonate faster than the speed of sound. Common explosives include TNT, C4, dynamite, and RDX mixtures. Improvised explosive devices are homemade bombs that can incorporate explosives, detonators, and other components. The effects of explosions include blast pressure, heat, secondary fires, and earth/water shock

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John Lloyd Arcilla
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EXPLOSIVE

s
explosives

• An explosive is a reactive substance that contains a great


amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion
if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the
production of light, heat, sound, and pressure.
Incendiary device explosive
• dynamite and all other forms of high explosives, any explosive bomb,
grenade, missile, or similar device, and any incendiary bomb or grenade,
fire bomb, or similar device, including any device which consists of or
includes a breakable container including a flammable liquid or compound,
and a wick composed of any material which, when ignited, is capable of
igniting such flammable liquid or compound, and can be carried or thrown
by one individual acting alone.
History
• It may never be known with certainty who invented the first explosive,
black powder, which is a mixture of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur,
and charcoal (carbon). The consensus is that it originated in China in
the 10th century, but that its use there was almost exclusively in
fireworks and signals.
Kinds of Explosives
Low Explosive
• mixtures of chemicals that burn very rapidly, but subsonically (as opposed to supersonically),
meaning that they “deflagrate.” They consist typically of fuel and an oxidizer. The black powder
used in fireworks is one example of a low explosive.

High Explosive
• A high explosive is any chemical mixture that detonates with a reaction velocity over 5000 fps.
The reaction can be initiated by a No. 8 strength blasting cap (i.e., high explosives are 1.
Straight Dynamite - Nitroglycerin in an absorbent, with velocities between 10,000 and 20,000
fps. This dynamite is the most sensitive of all commercial explosives. The weight strength is
the actual percentage of nitroglycerin in the cartridge. This explosive has poor fumes, good
water resistance, and poor cohesion.
Straight Dynamite
• Its NG content makes it the most dangerous type of dynamite to
handle and store
• NG vapor is quickly absorbed, thus causing severe headache
• Produces toxic fumes that make them unsuitable for
underground or confined space blasting
• Handler should be extremely cautious if NG content is leaking
• Sodium nitrate is often added to it to supply oxygen and
increase strength
• Has a velocity of 17,000 psi
• Has a heavy odor that is pungent yet sweet
Ammonia Dynamite
• Has a tan to light brown color
• Lower cost and less sensitive than straight dynamite
• Portion of NG is replaced by ammonia and sodium nitrate
• Percentage strength ranging from 5% to 70%
• Pushing heavy effect
• Detonation velocity ranging from 3,600 to 13,000 fps
• Possesses same odor effect as straight dynamite and may cause
headaches resulting from the NG base •
• Most widely used dynamite
Gelatin Dynamite
• Detonation velocities up to 23,600 fps
• Percentage strength ranging from 20% to 100%
• Unconfined, lower percentage strength that can detonate at 7,000 fps;
confined percentage strength of up to 13,000 fps
• Consists of water - resistant gel made of sodium, nitrocellulose, and
nitroglycerine
• Suitable for wet blasting on tough rock or ore
• Has a semi-gel consistency with properties shared with ammonia and
ammonia-gelatin dynamites
ammonia-gelatin Dynamite
• Similar characteristics as those of the gelatin dynamite, but
uses less costly ammonium nitrate as part of the explosive
mixture
• Percentage strength ranging from 25% to 90%.
• Detonation rate ranging from 7,000 to 13,000 fps
RDX Mixture
• It is a white powder and is very explosive. RDX is used as an explosive
and is also used in combination with other ingredients in explosives. 
• Composition 1 = RDX + plasticizer
• C2 = RDX + TNT + DNT + MNT + NC + dimethform
• C3 = C2 w/o DMF + tetryl
• C4 = RDX + secabate + fuel oil + polyisobutylene
Military Dynamite
• Equivalent to 60% straight dynamite
• Contains 75% RDX (Cyclonite) and 15% TNT (Trinitrotoluene).
5% engine oil, and 5% cornstarch
• Does not freeze or exude crystals
C-4
• Moldable
• Has a shattering effect
• Contains 91% RDX (Cyclonite), 8% plasticizer, and is other
ingredients Detonation velocity of up to 26,400 feet/second
Initiating or
Primary
Explosives (Initiators)
Initiators
• are highly sensitive to shock, friction or heat, and can
detonate violently even under normal conditions

Examples:
Other Examples
mercury fulminate,
lead styphnate,
lead azide and
picric acid
Non-initiating explosives

 relatively insensitive to heat, friction or shock, and will


normally burn than detonate when ignited in small quantities in
the open air

 consist of the majority of high explosives used for military and


commercial blasting.

Ex:
Other Examples
• Slurries  Detonation cord

• Boosters  Military explosives

• Emulsions  Water gels

• Straight dynamites (NG-based)


Nuclear Explosives
• produce explosive power not by chemical reactions but
through nuclear reactions

Ex:
Characteristics of Explosives
• Rapid expansion of gases,

• Must have limited amount of toxicity,

• Generation of heat due to the exothermic reaction, and

• Can be controlled in terms of rapidity and initiations of the


reaction when ignited
Bomb
• a hollow projectile with a generally spherical shape,
containing an explosive material and is made of iron.

• fired by concussions or by time fuse.


Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs)
• also known as roadside bombs
• are homemade bombs constructed and deployed in ways other
than those in conventional military action
• is a bomb fabricated in an improvised manner, which
incorporates destructive, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic, or
incendiary chemicals and are designed to destroy or
incapacitate personnel or vehicle.
• may be used in terrorist attacks or in unconventional warfare
Components of an (IED)
Composition of an IED
• Chemical Compound (Explosives)
1. Non-electric 2. Electric
Blasting Caps
Explosion

• the rapid combustion and decomposition of gases


with consequent violent increase of pressure that often
causes a load report.
Functional group of explosives responsible for the
sudden release of energy
• N3 (azides)
• -ON=C (fulminates)
• Acetylene and Acetylides
• Organometallic explosives
• -NX2 (halogenated amines)
• -NO2 and -NO3 (nitrates and nitrites)
• -O-O- and -O-O-O- (peroxides and ozonides)
• -OCIO2 and -OCIO3 (chlorates and perchlorates)
Types of Explosion
1. Mechanical - caused by the expansion of gas that produce high pressure
beyond the capacity of the container
.

2. Atomic or Nuclear - results from the atomic


transformation of atomic elements. It undergoes
three stages as follows:
• Fission  Fusion

• Tremendous release of energy, gas, heat and shock


.

3. Chemical - produced through the extremely rapid


transformation of unstable substances accompanied
by heat formation
.

Detonation - a violent explosion resulting from the practically


instantaneous combustion or decomposition of unstable compounds.
Effects of Explosion

• Heat thermal Effect (incendiary) - 3000 °C – 4000 °C.


• Blast Pressure Effect = 1/10,000 for a second (hot
expanding gas)

Secondary Effects of Explosion


• Shielding  Reflection

• Focusing  Structural Fire

• Earth and Water Shock


Explosives Analysis
Explosives analysis can be undertaken using the following
methods:

1. Infrared Spectrophotometry
2. Color Test
» Gries Reagent
» Diphenylamine Reagent
» Alcoholic KOH

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