Contents

Chapter 1
Introduction to Explosives

Development of Blackpowder
Development of Nitroglycerine
Development of Mercury Fulminate
Development of Nitrocellulose
Development of Dynamite
Development of Ammonium Nitrate
Development of Commercial Explosives
Development of Permitted Explosives
Development of ANFO and Slurry Explosives
Development of Military Explosives
Development of Picric Acid
Development of Tetryl
Development of TNT
Development of Nitroguanidine
Development of PETN
Development of RDX and HMX
Polymer Bonded Explosives
Heat-resistant Explosives

1
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
9
11
14

Chapter 2
Classification of Explosive Materials

18

Explosions
Atomic Explosions
Physical Explosions
Chemical Explosions
Chemical Explosives

18
18
19
19
19
vii

viii

Contents

Classification of Chemical Explosives

Primary Explosives
Secondary Explosives
Propellants
Chemical Data on Explosive Materials
Primary Explosives
Mercury Fulminate
Lead Azide
Lead Styphnate
Silver Azide
Tetrazene
Secondary Explosives
Nitroglycerine
Nitrocellulose
Picric Acid
Tetryl
TNT
Nitroguanidine
PETN
RDX
HMX
TATB
HNS
Other Compounds used in Explosive Compositions

20
21
23
24
24
24
24
25
26
27
28
29
29
30
32
33
34
36
37
38
40
41
42
42

Chapter 3
Combustion, Deflagration and Detonation

44

Combustion
Physical and Chemical Aspects of Combustion
Combustion of Explosives and Propellants
Deflagration
Detonation
Burning to Detonation
Shock to Detonation
Propagation of the Detonation Shockwave
Effect of Density on the Velocity of Detonation
Effect of Diameter of the Explosive Composition on the
Velocity of Detonation
Effect of Explosive Material on the Velocity of Detonation
Classification of Explosives

44
45
45
45
47
48
48
49
51
54
55
57

Contents

ix

Chapter 4
Ignition, Initiation and Thermal Decomposition

58

Ignition
Hotspots
Mechanisms for the Formation of Hotspots
Ignition by Impact and Friction
Friction
Impact
Classification of Explosives
Initiation Techniques
Explosive Train
Detonators
Igniters
Thermal Decomposition

58
59
59
61
61
61
62
65
65
66
66
67

Chapter 5
Thermochemistry of Explosives

69

Oxygen Balance
Decomposition Reactions
KistiakowskyWilson Rules
Modified KistiakowskyWilson Rules
Springall Roberts Rules
Heats of Formation
Heat of Explosion
Effect of Oxygen Balance
Volume of Gaseous Products of Explosion
Explosive Power and Power Index
Temperature of Chemical Explosion
Mixed Explosive Compositions
Atomic Composition of the Explosive Mixture
Oxygen Balance
Decomposition Reaction
Heat of Explosion
Volume of Gaseous Products
Energized Explosives
Addition of Aluminium
Force and Pressure of Explosion

69
72
73
74
75
76
78
82
83
85
85
89
89
91
91
92
93
93
94
95

Contents

Chapter 6
Equilibria and Kinetics of Explosive Reactions

97

Equilibria
Products of Decomposition
The WaterGas Equilibrium
Heat of Explosion
Temperature of Explosion
Kinetics of Explosive Reactions
Activation Energy
Rate of Reaction
Kinetics of Thermal Decomposition
Measurement of Kinetic Parameters
Differential Thermal Analysis
Thermogravimetric Analysis
Differential Scanning Calorimetry

97
98
99
99
104
105
105
106
107
108
108
110
110

Chapter 7
Manufacture of Explosives
Nitration
C-Nitration
Picric Acid
Tetryl
TNT
TATB
HNS
O-Nitration
Nitroglycerine
Nitrocellulose
PETN
N-Nitration
RDX
HMX
Nitroguanidine
Ammonium Nitrate
Primary Explosives
Lead Azide
Mercury Fulminate
Tetrazene

112
112
113
113
114
114
115
117
119
119
120
123
125
125
129
131
132
132
132
133
134

Contents

xi

Commercial Explosive Compositions

Ammonium Nitrate
Ammonium Nitrate Slurries
Ammonium Nitrate Emulsion Slurries
Dynamite
Military Explosive Compositions
Casting
Pressing
Ram and Screw Extrusion

135
135
135
136
136
137
137
138
141

Chapter 8
Introduction to Propellants and Pyrotechnics

143

Introduction to Propellants
Gun Propellants
Performance
Composition
Single-base Propellants
Double-base Propellants
Triple-base Propellants
Propellant Additives
High Energy Propellants
Liquid Propellants
Composite Propellants
Rocket Propellants
Performance
Composition
Double-base Propellants
Composite Propellants
Liquid Propellants
Gas-generating Propellants
Introduction to Pyrotechnics
Heat-producing Pyrotechnics
Primers and First Fires
Heat-generating Devices
Delay Compositions
Smoke-generating Compositions
Light-generating Compositions
Coloured Light
White Light

143
143
143
144
145
145
146
146
146
146
147
148
148
148
149
149
150
151
151
152
152
153
154
154
155
156
156

xii

Noise-generating Pyrotechnics
Bang
Whistle

Contents

156
156
157

Bibliography

159

Subject Index

161