Explosive munitions problem

Part I of this book presents basic principles in the cleaning up old munitions sites, limitations and expertise in ranediating munitions sites, the extent of the munitions problem, a general primer on explosive ordnance and chemical warfare material, prior ordnance disposal practices, ordnance detection, and excavation and removal of ordnance. 

Illustrative Example 11.4 Estimating the Retardation of Trinitrotoluene Transport in Groundwater Problem Due to past munitions production and use, the explosive NAC, trinitrotoluene (TNT), occurs in a ground water at 0.1 pM. You need to evaluate this compound s mobility in this oxic aquifer knowing it has the characteristics shown below. Mineralogy 75% quartz, 20% feldspar, 5% illite, 0.2% organic matter (NOM) Density of aquifer material ps = 2.6 kg L"1... 

The nylon-coated bullets from Smith Wesson and the Geco TMJ bul-let/new primer composition, although effective in markedly reducing the lead levels, did not totally eliminate the problem. In 1983, Dynamit Nobel introduced 9 mmP caliber ammunition with a TMJ bullet and a primer free of lead, antimony, barium. The new primer type was called Sintox. A typical Sintox primer composition contains 15% diazodinitrophenol (DDNP) and 3% tetracene as the explosive ingredients, 50% zinc peroxide as the oxidizer, 5% of 40-pm size titanium metal powder, and 27% nitrocellulose as propellant powder.202 As expected, other munitions manufacturers eventually introduced similar ammunition, some with primers that were lead free but containing antimony and barium and others free of lead, antimony, and barium. The objective was to produce ammunition which performed satisfactorily in every way and did not produce any toxic product on discharge. 

The munition route following the unpack area is the Explosive Containment Cubicle (ECC) containing four different demilitarization machines which will be remotely operated. Operation within the ECC will be followed by closed circuit television surveillance. Since there is a chance of an explosive fire incident, the ECC is designed for explosive and agent containment. Each step in demilitarization of munitions is controlled by a computer which also stops the operations within the ECC when a problem develops or equipment maintenance is needed. 

In addition to uncertainties about problems caused by the interaction of agent and propellant, a 1985 Army report speculated that agent contacting fuses and bursters could also be a mechanism for unanticipated explosive detonation, especially during munition handling and movement. While Army officials believe the risks are minimal, they advise that additional analyses may be necessary if the Army is required to store the chemical weapons beyond 2004. 

The Range Rule also confirms this problem with deterioration of explosive fillers. It states, As they deteriorate over time, some explosives may form sensitive crystals that could detonate if subjected to heat, shock or friction. Chemical munitions contain toxics that present additional safety risks. High explosive fillers, deteriorated explosives, and chemical munitions are a few examples of Military Munitions where the filler itself requires special safety considerations, even if the fusing mechanism is no longer capable of firing. ... 

Although this will lead to substantial destruction of the UXO, the area should be double-checked for shells that survive. (One of the known problems when magazines spontaneously detonate is finding the shells that survive.) The author believes in sandbagging the detonation site to help confine projectiles and to make a search for errant surviving shells easier. Finally, loose explosive balls may also survive, contaminating the soil and eventually the groundwater. Of course, the contamination will also occur if the munitions are left onsite. It is a lose-lose situation from the pollution perspective. 

During the First World War, Germany s powder plants were barely able to produce the amount of munitions required. A major problem arose from the lack of raw materials and components. Germany had no natural deposits of some of the materials, and was cut off from suppliers. Therefore, it had to find substitutes and synthetic processes, of which the Haber-Bosch process is perhaps the most famous. For example, Germany used coal for the production of toluol and phenol, and potatoes for the production of alcohol. Saltpetre — an essential raw material for the production of explosives — was not naturally available in Germany, and had to be imported. During the war the lack of saltpetre became a major constraint on German munitions production. 

Nitric acid (HNO3) assumed a central role among chemicals with applications in munitions, because all modern gunpowders and explosives are nitric acid derivatives. It became clear even before the transition to positional warfare that the 600 tons of explosives and 475 of gunpowder per month called for in the mobilization plan were amounts far too little to conduct the war, but even then the kinds and amounts that would be necessary on a regular basis remained unclear. For a time each arm had to make a new monthly calculation. The dimensions of the problem become clear if one reckons the quantity of nitrogen to which the army and navy... 

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