Binary explosives

First, ground AN can be mixed with liquid fuels. A common example prepared commercially is ground AN mixed with nitromethane. This produces the binary explosive known as KinePak. Diesel fuel can also be used, as it was with prills to produce ANFO. 

Ammonium dinitramide Ammonium dinitramide Ammonium dinitramide Binary explosive... 

Binary explosive ANFO Secondary high explosive... 

Binary explosive Hydrazine nitroform Hydrazinium nitroformate Hexanitrotetrachloroazobenzene Ammonium dinitramide... 

Binary explosive Two substances that are not explosive until they are mixed. 

Figure B.4 Kinepak kinestik binary explosive primed with det cord.

Tetryl is a high explosive with intermediate sensitivity and is used as a base charge in blasting caps, as the booster explosive in high-explosive shells, and as an ingredient of binary explosives. 

This inorganic azide has been investigated as a constituent of a binary explosive. The impact sensitivity data obtained using the Picatinny Arsenal apparatus (Figure 9) include that for barium azide made with 1-2% rhodamine B dye. 

RDX is used extensively as the base charge in detonators. Its most common uses are as an ingredient in castable TNT-based binary explosives and as the primary ingredient in plastic-bonded explosives. Mixtures are used as the explosive fill in almost all types of munitions. 

Because of its higher density, HMX has replaced RDX in explosive applications for which energy and volume are important. It is used in castable TNT-based binary explosives, as the main ingredient in high-performance plastic-bonded explosives, and in high-performance solid propellants. 

Binary explosives are used primarily where only limited quantities are required or when a need for explosives cannot be anticipated. Because they are not considered as explosives until mixed, they can be safely stored and transported. A liquid-liquid type, PLX, was developed for minefield clearing and is composed of nitromethane sensitized with ethylene diamine. Commercial binary explosive products include Astrolite, based on hydrazine and NH4NO3. Astrolite was offered in both aluminized and non-aluminized formulations, the former advertised as the most powerful chemical explosive available. A more widely sold binary, Kinestik, combines finely pulverized NH4NO3 and nitromethane. This combination, offered by several vendors, is the only binary explosive currently available commercially. To ensure complete migration of the liquid into the solid phase, a dye is added to the liquid. When the intact mixed explosive is examined, dye can be extracted from the solid with acetone, examined by TLC or GC-MS, and compared to the dye used by producers of the product. Identification of the NH4NO3 is straightforward and nitromethane can be identified by low-temperature GC. 

An improvised chlorate-nitrobenzene binary explosive formerly used by terrorists in the UK was abandoned because its presence was suggested by the persistent odor of nitrobenzene (NB) both on the clothing of the handlers of the explosive and in the postblast debris. Relatively low levels of NB are easily detectable by vapor sampling and GC with electron capture detection. Commercial nitromethane (NM) binary types will probably exhibit little residual NM postblast, but container fragments may permit detection of the liquid absorbed into the plastic. 

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