EXPLOSIVES
By: KIER COLLAO & JOVIT ESPERON
Learning Objectives
At the end of this chapter, the student will be able to:
Define Determine the Identify the Define Identify the
“explosive” types of effects of “explosives common methods
and explain explosives and explosion; analysis” of analyzing
their history; their explosive and
characterestic; explosive contents
What are Explosives?
An explosive is a reactive substance with a
great amount of potential energy that can cause
an explosion and thus releasing superheated
gases that expand with great force and does not
require atmospheric oxygen to sustain
combustion. Light, heat, sound, and pressure
are all common byproducts of explosives.
History of Explosives
Story begins back in ancient China in the mid-ninth century where
early Chinese alchemists were trying to create a potion for immortality.
Instead, what they created was a flammable powder that burned down
many of their homes. They quickly realized that this black powder, which
they called fire medicine, was precisely the opposite of something that
would make you live forever. In these early days, the Chinese hadn't yet
figured out how to make the powder explode; it was simply very
flammable, and their armies used it to make flaming arrows and even a
flamethrower. But once they figured out the right proportions of
ingredients to create a blast, they began using the powder even more,
creating fireworks to keep evil spirits away and bombs to defend
themselves against Mongol invaders. It was these Mongols, most likely,
who spread the invention of gunpowder across the world.
Kinds of Explosives
Explosives are generally classified into two categories, namely, low and high
explosives.
Low explosives - burn at a much slower rate and create less pressure
and typically used as propellants to send a rocket into space or force a
bullet out of a gun.
High explosives - burn more rapidly and crate more pressure. This
are explosive materials that detonate, meaning that the explosive shock
front passes through the material at a supersonic speed.
Explosives can also be categorized according to their sensitivity, that is,
sensitive materials that can be exploded by a smaller amount of pressure
or heat are called primary explosives , while materials that remain
relatively insensitive are called secondary explosives
Low High
Explosives Explosives
Low explosives are mixtures of High explosives consist of materials
chemicals that burn very rapidly, but that typically combine the reacting
subsonically (as opposed to elements in the same molecule. This
supersonically), meaning that they allows them to react much faster, and
deflagrate. They consist typically of fuel they “detonate.” Detonation involves
and an oxidizer. The black powder used supersonic shock waves that pass
in bullets is one example of a low through the material, causing chemistry
explosive. Black powder burns very that happens quite a bit faster than
quickly, but to get it to go bang, it has to burning.
be contained.
Dynamite Contents
Nitroglycerin or NG
EGDN (Ethylene Glycol
Dinitrate)
Support compounds
Ammonia-Gelatin
Sawdust wrapped in buff, red,
white, or orange wax paper
Nitroglycerin types of Dynamite
Straight Dynamite Ammonia Dynamite
Its NG content makes it the most dangerous Has a tan to light brown color
type of dynamite to handle and store Lower cost and less sensitive than straight
NG vapor is quickly absorbed, thus causing dynamite
severe headache Portion of NG is replaced by ammonia and
Produces toxic fumes that make them sodium nitrate
unsuitable for underground or confined space Percentage strength ranging from 5% to
blasting 70%
Handler should be extremely cautious if NG Pushing heavy effect
content is leaking Detonation velocity ranging from 3,00 to
Sodium nitrate is often added to it to supply 13,000 fps
and increase strength Possesses same color effect as straight
Has a velocity of 17,000 psi dynamite and may cause headaches
Has heavy odor that is resulting from NG base
pungent yet sweet Most widely used dynamite
Gelatin Dynamite Ammonia-Gelatin Dynamite
Detonation velocities up to 23,00 fps Similar characteristics as those of gelatin
Percentage strength ranging from 20% to dynamite, but uses less costly ammonium
100% nitrate as part of the explosive
Unconfined, lower percentage strength that Percentage strength ranging from 25% 90%
can detonate at 7,000 fps; confined Detonation rate ranging from 7,000 to
percentage strength of up to 13,000 fps 13,000 fps
Consists of water – resistant gel made of
sodium, nitrocellulose, and nitroglycerin
Suitable for wet blasting on tough rock or ore
Has semi gel like consistency
with properties shared with
ammonia and ammonia-gelatin
dynamites
Military
RDX Mixture Dynamite C4
C1: composition 1= Equivalent to 60% straight Moldable
RDX + plasticizer dynamite Has a shattering effect
C2 = RDX + TNT + Contains 75% RDX Contains 91% RDX
DNT + NC + (Cyclonite) and 15% TNT (cyclonite), 8%
Dimethformamide (Trinitrotoluene), 5% engine plasticizer, and 1%
C3 = C2 w/o DMF + oil, and 5% cornstarch other ingredients
tetryl Does not freeze or exude Detonation velocity of
C4 = RDX + secabate up to 26,400
+ fuel oil + feet/second
polyisobutylene
Types of High Explosives
Non-Initiating
Initiating explosives explosive
Sensitive, will detonate Is relatively insensitive
rapidly when subjected to requires heat, friction or
heat or shock. Used to shock and will normally
detonate other explosives burn than detonate when
in Explosive train. ignited in small quantities
in the open air. Includes
TNT or PETN.
Examples of Secondary High Explosive
Straight Dynamite, which are NG-based
Water gels
Detonation cord
Military explosives
Emulsions
Boosters
Slurries
Compared with traditional explosives,
these produce explosive power not by
chemical reactions but through nuclear
Nuclear reactions. In some types of nuclear
reactions, large atomic nuclei are split
Explosives (or fissioned) into two pieces. Here, the
release of large amounts of energy
combines small atomic nuclei to make a
single large nucleus.
Characteristic of
Explosives
The standard qualities a compound or mixture must possess
the following characteristics to qualify as an explosive:
Generation of heat due to the exothermic reaction;
Rapid expansion of gases;
Can be controlled in terms of rapidity and initiation of the
reaction when ignited; and
Must have limited amount of toxicity
Improvised Explosive Device
Bomb - A device containing an explosive,
incendiary, Components of an
or chemical material designed to explode. Improvised Explosive
IED - is a bomb fabricated in an improvised Device (IED)
manner, which incorporates destructive,
lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic, or incendiary
chemicals and are designed to destroy or
incapitate personnel or vehicles. This are
non-commercially produced device designed
to explode.
Composition of an IED
Non-Electrical Blasting caps Electric
Functional group of explosive responsible
for the sudden release of energy
Organization explosives
N3 (azides)
-NO2 and -NO3 (nitrates and nitrites)
-NX2 (halogenated amines)
-OCIO2 & OCIO3 (chlorates &
perchlorates)
-ON=C (fulminates)
-O-O- & -O-O-O- (peroxides &
ozonides)
Acetylene and Acetylides
Types of Explosion
Mechanical Atomic or Nurclear Chemical
This type of explosion This type of explosion is caused This type of explosion
is caused by the results from the atomic is produced through
expansion of gas that transformation of atomic rapid transformation of
produces high elements. It undergoes three unstable substances
pressure beyond the stages that follows: accompanied by heat
capacity of the Fission- splitting of the formation.
container. nucleus of atoms;
Fusion- under great force
joining together the nuclei of
atoms; and
Tremendous release of
energy, gas heat, and shock
Effects of Explosion:
● Heat Thermal Effect (Incendiary)
-3000 “C – 4000 “c Explosive Analysis:
● Blast Pressure Effect = 1/10,00 of Explosive analysis can be undertaken
a second (hot expanding gas) using the following methods:
1. Infrared Spectrophotometry
Seconadry Effects of Explosion: 2. Color Test
1. Focusing ● Greiss Reagent
2. Reflection ● Diphenylamine Reagent
3. Structural Fire ● Alcoholic KOH
4. Shielding
5. Earth and Water Shock
THANK YOU
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