Diamond explosion

DeCarli P S and Jamieson J C 1961 Formation of diamond by explosive shook Science 133 1821... 

CARBON - DIAMOND,NATURAL] (Vol 4) pXPLOSIVES AND PROPELLANTS - EXPLOSIVES] (Vol 10)... 

Diamonds also occur in meteorites, probably as a result of high pressures produced dynamically by impact (10,11). The shock or explosive mode of synthesis is a viable process for fine diamond powders of both the cubic and hexagonal (lonsdaleite) polymorphs (12) naturally or otherwise. Some diamonds in space appear to have formed by processes more closely related to the low pressure chemical vapor deposition processes described later (see... 

Shock Synthesis. When graphite is strongly compressed and heated by the shock produced by an explosive charge, some (up to 10%) diamond may form (26,27). These crystaUite diamonds are small (on the order of 1 llm) and appear as a black powder. The peak pressures and temperatures, which are maintained for a few microseconds, are estimated to be about 30 GPa (300 kbar) and 1000 K. It is beheved that the diamonds found in certain meteorites were produced by similar shock compression processes that occurred upon impact (5). 

The covalent compounds of graphite differ markedly from the crystal compounds. They are white or lightly colored electrical insulators, have Hi-defined formulas and occur in but one form, unlike the series typical of the crystal compounds. In the covalent compounds, the carbon network is deformed and the carbon atoms rearrange tetrahedraHy as in diamond. Often they are formed with explosive violence. 

A. Tanuary 17, 1986 explosion at a Diamond Shamrock Chemical plant near Ashtabula, Ohio, killed two employees, critically injured another, and caused lesser injuries to at least a dozen other workers. The blast involved 2,000 lb of ammonium dichromate in the unit for its production at the plant,... 

Explosive chemicals tend to be governed by separate legislation, e.g., in the UK, The Classification and Labelling of Explosives Regulations 1983. These require the HSE to classify any explosive before it may be supplied. Under the scheme, explosives are labelled according to a classification based on hazard division (Table 12.7), and on compatibility (Table 12.8), which takes into account their sensitivity, explosivity and chemical nature. Labels are diamond shaped the top half is reserved for the pictograph and division number, the bottom half shows the hazard code and the classification number. Figure 12.1 shows the label for Class 1, Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 explosive. 

Analytical decomposition of powdered diamond by fusion with potassium hydroxide may become explosive. This can be avoided by fusion with a potassium carbonate-sodium carbonate mixture, followed by addition of small portions of potassium nitrite or nitrate. 

Place these layers of explosive over the diamond pattern until it is fully covered. Push the slices firmly together, leaving no air gaps in between, and trim off any edges extending beyond the pattern. 

SLICE PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE INTO THIN STRIPS AND LAY ON DIAMOND. TRIM TO SHAPE... 

When the NFPA diamond is used for container or vessel labeling, and the white (bottom) quadrant contains the W symbol, the material will react violently or explosively with water, and a chemical reactivity hazard obviously exists. However, if the W symbol is not present, the material may still be water reactive, but at a slower rate, since the pur-pose of the NFPA symbol is to alert emergency responders to significant, immediate water reactivity n. hazards. Water reactivity is often very rapid, but can j also be slow. The reaction may generate sufficient gas Twy to rupture a closed container or vessel. The reaction of f an organic material with water may be delayed due to reaction only occurring at the interface. 

Committee of Experts has been allocated a unique four-digit number, called the Substance UN Number (or simply the UN Number). Thus a hazardous substance can be distinctly identified by the Substance UN Number (also called the Substance Identification Number or SIN). UN Serial number 0001 to 1000 are reserved for Class 1 items, that is, explosives and ammunition. The nine classes of dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals with a distinctive diamond shaped label bearing a pictorial diagram for quick hazard recognition are ... 

Available from NTIS AD 742150) G) R.K, Warner D.L. Overman, " Explosive Train Technology for Electronic Fuzes", Harry Diamond Laboratories HDL-PR—71-7(Nov 1971)... 

R.K. Warner, " Methods of Achieving Safe Stationary Explosive trains, Harry Diamond Laboratories HDL—TR—1481 (Feb 1970... 

A quite different set of dynamic high-pressure techniques are based on the use of chemical or nuclear explosions to produce transient shock waves of high peak pressure but short duration. With such methods, one can often penetrate the high-T, P regions where kinetic barriers become unimportant and a catalyst is unnecessary. However, the same kinetics that allows facile conversion of graphite to diamonds as the shock front arrives also allows the facile back-conversion as the shock wave passes. As a pioneer of shock-wave diamond synthesis remarked ruefully, We were millionaires for one microsecond [B. J. Alder and C. S. Christian. Phys. Rev. Lett. 7, 367 (1961) B. J. Alder, in W. Paul and D. M. Warschauer (eds). Solids under Pressure (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1963), p. 385]. 

Applications of Sapphire Cell-Infrared Spectroscopy Companion to the Diamond Cell in Explosive and Leg Wire Identification , JForensic-Sci, 57-65 (1978) 163) S. Bulusu, Mass... 

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