Electrostatic Sensitivity of Primary Explosives

In many practical situations, an exact knowledge of the sensitivity of a particular explosive is not necessary. It is sufficient to know the relative sensitivity of the explosive being handled so that the appropriate precautions can be taken. The relative sensitivity at the 50% initiation point ofRD1333 is compared to basic lead styphnate and tetracene in Table IV [9]. The energy required to initiate RD 1333 is more than twice that needed for lead styphnate but less than half that required for tetracene under the particular test conditions. 

Explosive Energy (J X IO ) parallel plane, fixed gap Approaching needle 

TETRACENE LEAD AZIDE LEAD STYPHNATE (C=530pF) 

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Circuit Parameter Approach to the Electrostatic Sensitivity of Primary Explosives , Proclntl-ConfResPrimaryExpls, ERDE, Waltham Abbey, Essex, Engl (17—19 March 1975) 3) Ibid,... 

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