Chemical explosives

Plutonium has assumed the position of dominant importance among the trasuranium elements because of its successful use as an explosive ingredient in nuclear weapons and the place which it holds as a key material in the development of industrial use of nuclear power. One kilogram is equivalent to about 22 million kilowatt hours of heat energy. The complete detonation of a kilogram of plutonium produces an explosion equal to about 20,000 tons of chemical explosive. 

B. M. Dobraty2, EENE Explosives Handbook, Properties of Chemical Explosives and Explosive Simulants, UCRL 52997, LLNL, University of California, Livermore, Mar. 1981. 

Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardons Chemicals Explosives and Blasting Agents Einal Rnle, Federal Register, Vol. 57, No. 36, Eeh-rnary 24, 1992. 

The main uses of toluene are as a solvent in paints, rubber, and plastic cements and as a feedstock in the manufacture of organic chemicals, explosives, detergents, and polyurethane foams. Xylenes (which exist as three isomers) are used in the manufacture of DMT, alkyd resins, and plasticizers. Naphthalene is mainly used in the manufacture of dyes, pharmaceuticals, insect repellents, and phthalic anhydride (used in the manufacture of alkyd resins, plasticizers, and polyester). 

Qccupational Safety and Health Administration (QSHA) (1992). 29 CFR Part 1910. Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals Explosives and Blasting Agents Final Rule. Federal Register 57, 36 (February 24), 6356-417. 

Chemical Explosion at Kyshtym - Southern Urals, USSR... 

Chemical explosives detonate, or deflagrate. Detonating explosives (e.g., TNT or dynamite) rapidly decompose to produce high pressure and a shock front (travels faster than the velocity of sound). Deflagrating explosives (e.g., black and smokeless powders) bum fast, prodr er... 

Explosion is burning that takes place sonically, hence, a shock front is produced. The damage mechanisms are physical destruction from the shock wave, collateral damage from falling structures, and human bums. Suffocation and poisoning are not usually associated with an explosion because of its short duration. A chemical explosives such as nitroglycerine, trinitrotoluene, dynamite, and others were discussed in Section 7.2.6. 

Chemical explosions are uniform or propagating explosions. An explosion in a vessel tends to be a uniform explosion, while an explosion in a long pipe is a propagating explosion. Explosions are deflagrations or detonations. In a deflagration, the burn is relatively slow, for hydrocarbon air mixtures the deflagration velocity is of the order of 1 m/s. In contrast, a detonation flame shock front is followed closely by a combustion wave that releases energy to sustain the shock wave. A... 

Many operators find it hard to grasp the power of compressed air. Section 2.2 (a) describes how the end was blown off a pressure vessel, killing two men, because the vent was choked. Compressed air was being blown into the vessel, to prove that the inlet line was clear. It was estimated that the gauge pressure reached 20 psi (1.3 bar) when the burst occurred. The operators found it hard to believe that a pressure of only twenty pounds could do so much damage. Explosion experts had to be brought in to convince them that a chemical explosion had not occurred. 

Chemical Explosion at Hanford, Safely Alert No. 97-1, U.S. Dept, of Energy, Washington, D.C., 1997. 

Of the eight nonmetals listed in Table 21.1, nitrogen is by far the least reactive. Its inertness is due to the strength of the triple bond holding the N2 molecule together (B.E. N=N = 941 kj/mol). This same factor explains why virtually all chemical explosives are compounds of nitrogen (e.g., nitroglycerin, trinitrotoluene, ammonium nitrate,... 

Dobratz, Properties of Chemical Explosives and Explosive Simulants , UCRL-51319, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Univ of Calif (Dec 1972), 4-6 to 4-7... 

Properties of Chemical Explosives and Explosive Simulants , UCRL 51319 (1974) 33) A. 

Chemical Explosives And Explosive Simulants , LLL, Univ Calif, UCRL-51319/Rev 1 (1974), 9-6 thru 19 78) A. Reichel, Research Meth-... 

General Properties. Chemically, Explosive D is not very reactiw. It is decompd into PA and ammonia by strong alkalies. At 0°, it absorbs one molecule of ammonia, but loses this at 26°. When maintained at its mp, it decomps... 

Dobratz, Properties of Chemical Explosives Explosive Simulants", UCRL-51319 (1972)... 

OSHA. 1991. Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals explosives and blasting agents. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Federal Register 57(36) 6356. February 24, 1991. 

The blast wave resulting from a chemical explosion is generated by the rapid expansion of gases at the explosion site. This expansion can be caused by two mechanisms (1) thermal heating of the reaction products and (2) the change in the total number of moles by reaction. 

EPA, Prevention of Reactive Chemical Explosions, Report 550-F0O-OO1. Available at www.epa.gov/... 

Dobratz, Brigitta M., "Properties of Chemical Explosions and Explosive Simulants," UCRL-52997, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, California, March 1981. 

The types of explosions that may occur depend on the confinement of the reactive material, its energy content, its kinetic parameters, and the mode of ignition (self-heating or induced by external energy input). Explosions are characterized as physical or chemical explosions, and as homogeneous or heterogeneous as described in Figure 2.2. 

A physical explosion, for example, a boiler explosion, a pressure vessel failure, or a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion), is not necessarily caused by a chemical reaction. Chemical explosions are characterized as detonations, deflagrations, and thermal explosions. In the case of a detonation or deflagration (e.g., explosive burning), a reaction front is present that proceeds through the material. A detonation proceeds by a shock wave with a velocity exceeding the speed of sound in the unreacted material. A... 

A thermal explosion is the third type of chemical explosion. In this case, no reaction front is present, and it is therefore called a homogenous explosion. Initially, the material has a uniform temperature distribution. If the temperature in the bulk material is sufficiently high so that the rate of heat generation from the reaction exceeds the heat removal, then self-heating begins. The bulk temperature will increase at an increasing rate, and local hot spots may develop as the thermal runaway proceeds. The runaway reaction can lead to overpressurization and possible explosive rupture of the vessel. 

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