Explosives
An explosive is a chemical compound or a mixture which on
detonation undergoes a very rapid chemical reaction and
explodes with a large amount of potential energy released in the
form of heat ,light , sound as well as large volume of gases are
release. Since explosive reactions are exothermal the gases
released are heated to high temperature so generate a high
pressure on the surrounded.
Characteristics of explosives:
• Explosives should be stable – non volatile and non hygroscopic
under normal condition so that it can be stored safely.
• The rate of decomposition should be very fast so that a large volume
of gases are produced exothermally.
• It should have at least one chemical bond that can be
easily broken.
• It should have positive oxygen balance to oxide the carbon
and hydrogen to CO and H2O.
Uses of Explosives
Explosives are use for :
• construction rather than destruction
• Defense rather than offence
• Blasting mines for ore (iron, salts..)
• Drilling rocks - tunnels, roads
• Excavating earth for dams etc
Classification of Explosives
Primary Explosives and Secondary explosives
• Primary Explosives (Initiative or detonators) :
These are highly sensitive explosives which explode on
receiving a slight shock or by fire so must be handled with
care. These are mainly used in small quantities to start or
initiate the explosion of the main explosive which is
comparatively less sensitive like TNT. Therefore primary
explosives are also known as initiating explosives or
detonators.
Example: Lead azide (PbN6)
Diazodinitrophenol (DDNP)
Tetracene(C2H7N7O)
Secondary Explosives are further classified –
low explosives and high explosives
Low Explosives : These explosives simply burn and they do not
explode violently. The chemical reaction taking place in such
explosives are comparatively slow and these burning proceeds
from the surface inwards in layers (at an approximate rate of
20cm per sec). The gases evolved disperse readily without
building high pressure and consequently they can be
controlled easily therefore can be use to propel projectiles.
Example:
(i) Gun powder or Black powder – is a mixture of 75%
KNO3, 15% charcoal and 10% sulphur. It contains sufficient
oxygen to combine with the other elements present when it is
ignited
10KNO3 + 3S + 8C 3K2SO4 + 2K2CO3 + 6CO2 + 5N2
(ii) Nitrocellulose (gun cotton)-propellant :
Nitrocellulose is obtained when cellulose is steeped for half hour in a
cooled mixture of conc. HNO3 and conc.H2SO4. Cellulose nitrate
looks like an ordinary cotton but due to its explosive nature is known
as gun cotton. Cellulose nitrate in dry condition explodes very rapidly
when set on fire but in wet condition ,it is set-off by a small amount of
another explosive.
conc.H SO
C6H7O2(OH)3 + 3HNO3 2
C6H7O2(NO3)3 + H2O
4
a unit of cellulose a unit of nitrocellulose (Gun cotton)
Cell-OH + HNO3 conc.H2SO4 Cell-ONO2
Uses:
• Dry gun cotton in fiber form is used in torpedoes and submarine mines.
• It is also used as propellant in artillery shells, rifles, rockets
• It is use in making smokeless powder (gun powder)
High Explosive
• High explosive have high energy content than the primary explosives.
However they may be quite stable and insensitive to fire and mechanical
shocks so generally a small amount of primary (initiating) explosive are
place in contact with the stable high explosive (TNT). The explosion of the
primary or initiating explosive will start the explosion of the stable high
explosive. Example TNT, GTN, RDX ,Dynamite, Picric acid (trinitro
phenol).
(i) Trinitrotoluene (TNT)
TNT is prepared by nitration of Toluene with conc. Nitric acid
in presence of conc. Sulphuric acid in the ratio of 1:1 at 230 o C.
Trinitrotoluene (TNT)
• Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is prepared by nitration of Toluene with conc. Nitric acid in
presence of conc. Sulphuric acid in the ratio of 1:1 at 230 o C. It is faint yellow
crystalline solid. The prepared TNT is washed with ammoniacal solution of
sodium sulphite then with cold water. It is relatively insensitive to shock and
cannot be exploded without a detonator.
conc.H2SO4
+ conc. HNO3
230oC
• 22
• Uses of TNT:
• It is use an important military explosives because it is safe in manufacture, transportation,
and storage. It is non-hygroscopic as well as do not react with metals to form unstable
compounds. It does not explode below 240oC and has low melting point of 81oc , suitable
for loading in containers.
• It is used in bombs, shells, grenades, in under water blasting and industrial applications
• TNT is mixed with ammonium nitrate forms Amatol which is use to blast old building.
Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)
• Glyceryl trinitrate(1,2,3-trinitroxypropane) is prepared by adding glycerol to a
cooled mixture of concentrate sulphuric acid (60%) and concentrate nitric acid (40%)
at 10 o C with constant stirring. The prepared Glyceryl trinitrate is separated with the
help of separating funnel. The obtained GTN is washed with water and with dilute
solution of sodium carbonate (2%) to remove traces of acids. GTN is pale yellow oily
liquid which explode on receiving small detonation.
• Glyceryle trinitrate is use to prepare dynamites. Dynamites are prepared by treating
GTN in an inert absorbent such as wood pulp, sawdust, starch meals etc. the strength
of dynamite depends on the ration of GTN and an inert absorbent.
• It is also use as an active ingredient and gelatinizer for nitrocellulose in some solid
propellants like cordite.
• Plastic explosive are combination of explosives which are in plastic
state(soft) that can be hand molded, press-loaded and made into various
shapes without any serious risk. It is prepared by mixing high explosive
with wax or oil which make it less sensitive as well as more plastic. These
plastic explosives can be molded into sheet or a mass. For the engineering
application these plastic explosives are available as flexible sheet which
can be cut into the desired shapes and can easily be fixed by an adhesive
and are used to start the explosion.
