Chlorate-based explosives

Numerous terrorist groups still apply chlorate-based explosives to this day. Sodium chlorate is a principle ingredient found in many weed killers in Europe. As seen, the applicability of chlorates to IEs has been well documented. This has not been overlooked by bomb makers throughout Europe. One of the more popular mixtures involves combining the chlorate with icing sugar. This fuel will be encountered again in the next section. 

Erupterite, A chlorate based explosive manufd by the Northern Explosives Company, Ltd, Glasgow,Scotl and and authorized in 1899 by British. Govt for use in some mines. Its compn is not given Ref Daniel, Diet (1902), 283... 

The potential for explosive combustion of mixture of sodium chlorate-based herbicides with other combustible agricultural materials was determined. Initiation temperatures and maximum combustion temperatures were measured for mixtures of sodium (or potassium) chlorate with peat, powdered sulfur, sawdust, urotropine (hexamethylenetetramine), thiuram and other formulated materials. With many combinations, maximum temperature increases of 500-1000°C at rates of 400-12007s were recorded for 2 g samples. 

There are four types of explosives that do not contain nitro groups inorganic oxidizers (in combination with any fuel), peroxide explosives, primary explosives, and newly developed high-nitrogen explosives. Chapter 3 discusses both the inorganic oxidizers—principally nitrate or chlorate-based and peroxide explosives—TATP and HMTD. We have previously reported on the thermal stabilities... 

The majority of Sprengel s fuels were energetic hydrocarbons. Chlorate-based composite explosives tend to be very sensitive to friction and shock. When mixed with energetic fuels, the chlorate formulations are even more sensitive. To address this problem, historically two paths were taken. The chlorate was either mixed with a nonenergetic hydrocarbon or the mixture was phlegmatized (lubricated) if an energetic fuel was desired. 

It should be noted that the use of chlorate has not been limited to Bali. Two more attacks using chlorate-based improvised explosives occurred in Indonesia followed the Bali bombing. On August 5, 2003, the J.W. Marriott hotel was bombed in Jakarta. In an even bolder attack the Australian Embassy in Jakarta was bombed on September 9, 2004. This continued reliance on a highly sensitive main charge in Indonesia illustrates that terrorists will utilize whatever tools are at their disposal regardless of the risks. 

Vril Explosives. K chlorate based mining expls patented in Engl in 1889 having the following formulations 1... 

Sedorolite Primary Mixture. A chlorate based expl based on Sb sulfide and sulfur. See refs under Chlorate Explosives in Vol 2, C206-R... 

NATRIUMRHODANID (German) (540-72-7) Exposure to light causes slow decomposition, forming cyanide, sulfur oxides, and nitrous vapors. Violent reaction with organic peroxides, nitric acid. Incompatible with acids, bases, chlorates, ammonia, amines, amides, alcohols, glycols, caprolactam, nitrates, peroxides, potassium chlorate, potassium iodate, silver nitrate, sodium chlorate. Forms explosive mixture with sodium nitrate. 

Before nitrates and particularly ammonium nitrate were readily available commercially, explosives were developed based on chlorates and perchlorates. These also are still used in some countries. In general perchlorates are considered less dangerous than chlorates and therefore preferred. They are easily sensitised, so that in addition to explosives of this type based on nitroglycerine, others have been based on various organic liquids, particularly nitrobodies. History shows that chlorates and perchlorates must be regarded as temperamental substances, liable in bulk to lead to inexplicable accidents. Particularly when mixtures of chlorates and oxidising materials are allowed to become wet and then dry out, conditions can arise in which there is an appreciable sensitiveness to friction and impact. Explosives of this type have an unfortunate record of accidents. They are used, therefore, to a limited extent only, now that safer compositions are available. 

The second dip, or series of dips, is intended to provide a suitable flame which can ignite the initiating explosive in the detonator. These dips are commonly based on potassium chlorate and charcoal, again suspended in... 

Hydroxylamine is a powerful reducant, particularly when anhydrous, and if exposed to air on a fibrous extended surface (filter paper) it rapidly heats by aerobic oxidation. It explodes in contact with air above 70°C [1]. Barium peroxide will ignite aqueous hydroxylamine, while the solid ignites in dry contact with barium oxide, barium peroxide, lead dioxide and potassium permanganate, but with chlorates, bromates and perchlorates only when moistened with sulfuric acid. Contact of the anhydrous base with potassium dichromate or sodium dichromate is violently explosive, but less so with ammonium dichromate or chromium trioxide. Ignition occurs in gaseous chlorine, and vigorous oxidation occurs with hypochlorites. 

Several explosive salts including the acetylide, azide, borate, bromate, chlorate, chromate, iodate (and ammonium iodate double salt), nitrite, perchlorate (and ammonium perchlorate double salt), periodate, permanganate, picrate and trinitrobenzoate were prepared. The 3 latter salts and the acetylide, azide and bromate are impact-sensitive detonators [1], It appears probable that many of the explosively unstable compounds [2], formed in various ways from interaction of mercury or its compounds with ammonia or its salts, may have the common polymeric structure now recognised for Millon s base [3], This is a silica-like network of N+ and Hg in 4- and 2-coordination, respectively, with OH and water in the interstitial spaces. Individually indexed compounds are Poly(dimercuryimmonium acetylide)... 

Yet another important feature of inorganic oxidisers such as potassium nitrate rests with the nature of the atoms forming the chemical bonds. Many pyrotechnic compositions rely on chlorates, perchlorates or nitrates as high-energy oxidisers whilst high explosives commonly are based on nitrated organic substances. The reason for this lies with the electronegativity of the atoms concerned. 

Base charge. A standard blasting cap shell may be charged with. 16g of nitroinulin (13.75%N) pressed under 7840 psi, and provided with a primer charge of 0.3g of 80/20 fulminate-K chlorate mixt. Such a cap was found to be satisfactory for the detonation of explosives Ref 1) W. deC. Crater, USP 1992123 (1933)... 

The converse obviously applies to ammonium nitrate explosives, which must not contain any chlorates, since during storage a double exchange reaction may occur resulting in the formation of ammonium chlorate (p. 476, Vol. II), an unstable substance which decomposes spontaneously. A number of patents were taken out between 1880 and 1895, for explosives based on the use of ammonium chlorate or mixtures of ammonium nitrate with potassium or sodium chlorate. Many accidents which occurred through the spontaneous decomposition of these explosives proved the impossibility of using mixtures containing both chlorates and ammonium salts (Hantke [79]). 

Divine explosives are sometimes called " Sprengel Type Explosives" because they are based on K chlorate, one of the chlorates patented in 1871 by H. Sprengei for use in his expls (Ref 6, p353)... 

Work Specific. See Specific Work Uses. Pentryl was proposed for use as a base charge in detonators in lieu of tetryl or nitro-mannite, as well as for some other purposes either alone or mixed with other explosives. Addition of an oxidizing agent(such as K chlorate) to pentryl greatly enhances its strength and is recommended by Clark as of distinct economic advantage (Refs 3,4,5,8, 9,10 11)... 

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