EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS

A fire spark or a bomb is a symbol of explosive substances which release a tremendous

amount of energy in the form of heat, light and expanding pressure within a very short period
of time.
1.

DEFINITION OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS

An explosive materials 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.

2.

TYPE OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS

EXPLOSIVES

LOW EXPLOSIVES

HIGH EXPLOSIVES

Black Powder
Smokeless Powder

PRIMARY HIGH
EXPLOSIVES
Lead Azide
Lead Styphnate
Mercury Fulminate

SECONDARY HIGH
EXPLOSIVES

BOOSTERS
PETN
RDX

MAIN CHARGE
DYNAMITE
WATER GELS
TNT
ANFO

PROPELLANTS OR LOW EXPLOSIVES

Propellants of low explosives are combustible materials containing within
themselves all oxygen needful for their combustion, which burn but do not explode
and function by producing gas which produces an explosion. Under normal
conditions, low explosives undergo deflagration at rates that vary from a few
centimeters per second to approximately 400 metres per second.
It is possible for them to deflagrate very quickly, producing an effect similar to a
detonation. This usually occurs when ignited in a confined space. Explosives of this
class differ widely among themselves in the rate at which they deliver their energy.
There are slow powders and fast powders for different uses.
Examples of low explosives are black powder and smokeless powder.

HIGH EXPLOSIVES
High explosives are explosive materials that detonate, meaning that the
explosive shock front passes through the material at a supersonic speed. High
explosives detonate under the influence of the shock of the explosion of a suitable
primary explosive. They do not function by burning; in fact, not all of them are
combustible, but most of them can be ignited by a flame and in small amount
generally burn tranquilly and can be extinguished easily. If heated to a high
temperature by external heat or by their own combustion, they sometimes explode.
High explosives different from primary explosives because high explosives in
not being exploded readily by heat or by shock, and generally in being more brisant
and powerful. They exert a mechanical effect upon whatever is near them when they
explode, whether they are confined or not. A high explosive compound detonates at
rates ranging from 1,000 to 9,000 meters per second and are conventionally. High
explosives divided into two explosives classes, they are :
1.

PRIMARY HIGH EXPLOSIVES:

A primary high explosive or initiators is an explosive that is extremely
sensitive to
stimuli such as impact, friction, heat, static electricity, or
electromagnetic radiation. A relatively small amount of energy is required for
initiation. Primary explosives are often used in detonators or to trigger larger charges
of less sensitive secondary explosives.

The examples of a primary high explosive are mercury fulminate, lead azide,
the lead salts of picric acid and trinitroresorcinol, m-nitrophenyldiazonium
perchlorate, tetracene, nitrogen sulfide, copper acetylide, fulminating gold,
nitrosoguanidine, mixtures of potassium chlorate with red phosphorus or with
various other substances, the tartarates and oxalates of mercury and silver.

Mercury Fulminate

Lead Azide

2. SECONDARY HIGH EXPLOSIVES OR BASE EXPLOSIVES

Secondary high explosives or base explosives are relatively insensitive to shock,
friction, and heat. They may burn when exposed to heat or flame in small, unconfined
quantities, but detonation can occur. These are sometimes added in small amounts to
blasting caps to boost their power. Secondary high explosives divided into two
groups, they are :

BOOSTER EXPLOSIVES
Booster explosives are those components of the explosive train that function
to transmit and augment the force and flame from the initiating explosive.
They ensure the reliable detonation or burning of the main burster charge or
propellant charge.
Require substantially more energy to be initiated.
Examples of Booster explosives include PETN and RDX.
RDX ( Royal Demolition Explosive )
VOD (Velocity of Detonation)
26,800 feet/second
White crystalline solid.
Usually mixed with other
explosives, oils, and waxes.

MAIN CHARGE EXPLOSIVES

Are so insensitive to shock
Often used for safety and the typically lower costs of material and handling
They have also been used for terrorist attacks, because of the sometimes ready
availability of large quantities of precursors (example nitrate fertilisers).
Examples of Main charge explosives include ANFO , TNT, and dynamite.

TNT ( Trinitrotoluene )

VOD-22,600 feet per second.

Very stable among high explosives.

Relatively insensitive to blows or friction.

Used as booster charge for high explosives.

ANFO ( Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil )

VOD-12,000-15,000 feet/second.

Mix of ammonium nitrate w/carbon carriers.

Uses : construction, road building, and quarrying.

DYNAMITE

VOD-3,600-23,600 feet/second.

Uses : construction, road building, quarrying, mining.

3.

WHAT CAUSES CHEMICAL EXPLOSIONS

STORAGE TEMPERATURE
More higher the temperature the more easily occur explosive reaction.
COLLISION AND MECHANICAL FRICTION
May cause localized heating of explosive. This can occur in the process of
mixing, grinding, and transport.
HUMIDITY
High humidity in storage will cause the adsorption of water that easily chemical
reactions occur. It storage should be free from the leaking roof in the rain.
ELECTRICITY
Electircity to provide heating and sparks.
Influence other chemicals in storage. Reductor chemicals would be dangerous if
mixed or adjacent with an unstable oxidizing materials.
Hot Surfaces.
Flames and Hot Gases (Including Hot Particles ).
Mechanically Generated Sparks.
Electrical Apparatus.
Stray Electric Currents.
Static electricity.
Lightning.
Radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from 104 hz to 3 x 1011 Hz.
Adiabatic Compression and Shock Waves.

4.

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS

1. Explosive materials such as mercury fulminate and lead azide apart from other
materials.
2. Keep explosive materials in proper containers with contents clearly marked.
3. Store an upright position.
4. Post signs prohibiting smoking, open flames and other ignition sources in areas.
5. Ventilate all storage areas properly.
6. Storage area away from sources of heat and electricity.

5.

EXPLOSION EFFECTS
Once an explosion has occurred there is a series of effects it will produce. These
effects are broken into two major categories, primary and secondary effects. Primary effects
will always accompany an explosion, while secondary effects may or may not occur.

PRIMARY EFFECTS

Primary effects are almost always the most destructive explosive effects. There are
three types of primary effects: Blast pressure, Fragmentation, and Thermal.

Blast Pressure
In general, blast pressures are the most destructive force involved in any explosion.
The blast pressure of any given explosion may be as high as 700 tons per square inch,
depending on the particular explosive involved. This pressure travels out from the
source of the explosion in a circular pattern at speeds up to 13,000 miles per hour and
can be produced in as short a period of time as 1/10,000 of a second.

Fragmentation
Fragmentation includes that of the explosive container as well as materials in the same
vicinity. During fragmentation, objects are literally broken into small parts by the
energy imparted by the blast pressure. These fragments will be propelled away from
the origin of the explosion at speeds up to 2700 feet per second (faster than many
conventional bullets).

Thermal
In explosions intense temperatures are generated for very short periods of time.
o

Theoretical temperatures can reach 27,000 F, which can cause severe skin burns even
though the temperature will likely drop rapidly (e.g in thousandths of seconds). It is
characterized by the flash and fireball associated with the explosion.

SECONDARY EFFECTS
Secondary effects are also divided into three types: shock wave modification,
fire, and shock wave transfer. It is important to remember that all or none of the
secondary effects may be present with any given explosion. Of these three, fire is the
only one generally of concern in a laboratory. The combination of substances that
often explode in the laboratory during the experiment are:
Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), powder zinc (Zn) with water.
Peroxide with magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn) or aluminum (Al).
Chlorate with sulfuric acid.
Sodium (Na) or potassium (K) with water.
Nitric acid (HNO3) and zinc (Zn), magnesium or other metals.
Potassium nitrate (KNO 3) with sodium acetate (CH3COONa).
Nitrate with ether.
Halogen with ammonia.
Phosphorus (P) with nitric acid (HNO3), a nitrate or chlorate.
Mercury oxide (HgO) with sulfur (S).

6.

SAFETY TOOL OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS

1. Eye Protection
Wear eye protection to protect eyes from
accidents as a result of chemical spills, chemical
fumes, and radiation of explosive chemicals. In
general, eye protection consists of:
Protective glasses or goggles Safety
Faceshield
Visor
Goggle
2. Face Protection
Wear face protection aims to protect the
face of workplace accidents such as
splash chemicals explosive or other
accidents.

3. Body Protection
Body protection is used to protect the body from
chemical spills explosive or fire before the affected part
of the skin of the wearer. In addition,body protection
also protects the body from extreme temperatures, bad
weather, chemicals or metal flake, spray from a leaking
pressure, collision or punctured, dust contamination,
and others. body protection consists of:
Boiler Suits
Specialist Protective Clothing
Eg Chain-Mail Aprons
High-Visibility Clothing
Lab Coat
Jumpsuits
Apron

4. Hand Protection
Hand protection is used to protect the hands from
bruising, extreme temperature, cut off and
punctured, hit or beaten, chemicals, shock, skin
infections, illness or contamination besides
protect the hands from chemical spills explosive.
In general, hand protectors consist of:
Gloves
Gauntlets
Mitts
Wristcuffs
Armlets

5. Respiratory Protection
Respiratory protection is used to protect the nose
from contamination. Chemical contamination is
most often into the human body is through
breathing. Lots of airborne particles, dust,
vapors and gases, especially from explosive
materials that can harm the respiratory.