Explosives potassium nitrate

All explosive materials contain oxygen, which is needed for the explosive reaction to take place. The oxygen can be introduced by chemical reactions (nitration) or by mechanical incorporation of materials containing bound oxygen. The most important solid-state oxidizers are nitrates, especially -> Ammonium Nitrate and -> Sodium Nitrate for explosives -> Potassium Nitrate for -> Black Powder and ion exchanged -> Permitted Explosives, potassium chlorate for -> Chlorate Explosives and for pyrotechnical compositions Ammonium Perchlorate (APC) for -> Composite Propellants. 

Some reactors are designed specifically to withstand an explosion (14). The multitube fixed-bed reactors typically have ca 2.5-cm inside-diameter tubes, and heat from the highly exothermic oxidation reaction is removed by a circulating molten salt. This salt is a eutectic mixture of sodium and potassium nitrate and nitrite. Care must be taken in reactor design and operation because fires can result if the salt comes in contact with organic materials at the reactor operating temperature (15). Reactors containing over 20,000 tubes with a 45,000-ton annual production capacity have been constmcted. 

Sodium and potassium nitrates give an explosive reaction with lithium. 

The same goes for carbon (the accident was caused because carbon was used instead of manganese dioxide, by mistake), sulphur and phosphorus. There was a detonation with carbon. With phosphorus the detonation occurred once the carbon disulphide used to dissolve phosphorus vapourised red phosphorus behaves the same way. The same happened with the potassium chlor-ate/sodium nitrate/sulphur/carbon mixture, which led to a violent detonation as well as with the potassium perchlorate/aluminium/potassium nitrate/barium nitrate/water mixture. In the last case the explosion took place after an induction period of 24h. 

Gelignite. Originally a gelatine explosive containing potassium nitrate as oxidising material. Now often applied to any gelatine. 

Explosion hazards of mixtures of lactose monohydrate with potassium chlorate, potassium nitrate or potassium perchlorate are assessed. 

A demonstration by Berthollet in 1788 of replacement of potassium nitrate in gunpowder by the chlorate led to a violent explosion during the crushing operation which caused two fatalities. Later incidents involving factories for chlorate-containing explosives led to widespread destruction. 

An account of a serious warehouse explosion (15 dead, 141 injured). The two principal detonations were mostly due to ammonium nitrate, of which some hundred tonnes had been present, but the initiating fire was first observed in ammonium persulfate. This had been promiscuously stored alongside potassium permanganate, matches, potassium nitrate and sodium sulphide (or possibly sulphite), inter alia. None of these would improve the safety of ammonium persulfate. It was shown that the persulphate gives an immediate exothermic reaction with the sulphide. This was ascribed as the ultimate initiation. It was concluded that oxidants and... 

Potassium nitrate in cloth sacks stowed next to baled peat moss became involved in a ship fire and caused rapid flame spread and explosions [1]. Heat transfer salt from a new supplier was added to a pilot plant reactor salt bath. Some 12 h after start of heating to melt the bath contents a muffled explosion occurred, attributed to presence of organic impurities in the new salt [2],... 

Mixtures of potassium nitrate with sodium phosphinate and sodium thiosulfate are explosive, the former being rather powerful. 

Yellow phosphorus ignites in molten ammonium nitrate, and mixtures of phosphorus with ammonium nitrate, mercuiy(I) nitrate or silver nitrate explode on impact. Red phosphorus is oxidised vigorously when heated with potassium nitrate [1]. During development of new refining agents for aluminium manufacture, a mixture containing red phosphorus (16%) and sodium nitrate (35%) was being pressed into 400 g tablets. When the die pressure was increased to 70 bar, a violent explosion occurred [2],... 

Heating mixtures of barium, potassium or sodium amidosulfates or amidosulfuric acid, with sodium or potassium nitrates or nitrites, leads to reactions which may be explosive. TGA plots are given. 

Though the oxidation potentials of potassium nitrate (KN KNO3) and sodium nitrate (SN NaN03) are high, both metal nitrates generate combustion products of high Mg, Thus, the specific impulse becomes low when KN or SN is used in a rocket propellant KN and SN are used as major ingredients of explosives and in pyrotechnics. KN is a weU-known material as a major component of black powder. 

Black powder is the oldest explosive in history, dating back to the eighth century. Its chemical composition is well-known as a mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal. The mixture ratio is varied according to the purpose for which it is to be used, with the ranges kno3(0-58-0.79), (0.08-0.20), and ( (0.10-0.20). Black powder composed of particles less than 0.1 mm in diameter is used for shell burst of fireworks and fuses. The grade with diameter 0.4—1.2 mm is used for the launch of spherical shells of fireworks, while that with diameter 3-7 mm is used in stone mines. Since black powder is sensitive to sparks caused by mechanical impact, friction, and static electricity, black powder containers should be made of brass or aluminum alloys rather than iron or steel. When Cl and Ca or Mg are present as impurities, CaClj or MgClj is formed and the thermal performance of KN is reduced. Contamination with NaCl also needs to be avoided for the same reason. 

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. 

BLACK POWDER (synonymous with Gunpowder) An intimately milled mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal that has propellant or explosive properties. 

Reactive, alkali metal used to make fertilizers and as potassium nitrate, or saltpeter, explosives. 

Potassium nitrate is used in explosives, blasting powders, gunpowder, matches, and fireworks. Other applications of this salt include pickling meats tempering steel impregnating candle wicks freezing mixtures preparing other potassium salts and as a diuretic. 

Potassium nitrate has the additional property of not undergoing an explosion by itself, even when very strong initiating modes are used [2]. 

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