Expls and pyrots

Na picrate deflagrates on flame contact, and retains this property when mixed with other materials. It has been used in expl and pyrot compns in lieu of K picrate (Ref 5)... 

Wenghoffer. German who in 1899—1900 patented expl and pyrot formulations contg finely/pul-verized A1 and Mg mixed with PA, K nitrate, etc. The same inventor proposed the manuf of PA starting with aniline and not with phenol, as was the usual procedure (USP 666627 of 1901) nanie.i ( arvn aoc a... 

A review of these efforts illuminates the dimensions of the problem. It was found that certain chemical materials such as the relatively stable high expls and pyrots can be easily reclaimed and reloaded [expl refs (see Table 1) 1... 

Moisture. The effect of moisture on expls, propints and pyrots can be deleterious in terms of reliability, efficiency and safety. This unwanted ingrenlent can add uncertainty and possible hazard in the manuf, storage and eventual use of ammo. Moisture adds to the costs of ammo in many ways. These include less effective material being available per unit volume, with concomitant increases in malfunction rate, curtailed shelf life because of structural failures occasioned by moisture-generated chem reaction products and the cost of many investigations undertaken to understand and prevent effects (Expls Refs 6,8, 11, 12, 15,17,21,26, 28,31,34,35,39, 40,. 41, 43, 44, 46, 48, 52 54 Propints Refs 9, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 27, 29, 37 53 Pyrots Refs 5, 7,10, 14,18, 20, 23, 24, 28, 30 38)... 

Uses. Ingredient of igniter and pyrot compns (Refs 6, 7, 8 9). Recommended in the oldeir literature as an expl having approx the same power as TNT, and in mixts with AN, chlorates or perchlorates (Refs 3,4 5)... 

Inorgenic oxides have many ordnance applications in batteries, ceramics, expls, nuclear energy and propn systs, propints, and pyrots. A brief dissertation on each of these applications is now presented... 

For reviews see Refs l 30. Its primary use in the expls industry is for the prepn of AP and other perchlorates for use in expls, propints, and pyrots (see below under individual perchlorates)... 

The EED is installed into a simple piston/ cylinder-arranged mechanical device. When sufficient electrical energy is supplied thru the pins to the bridgewire, the wire becomes very hot and ignites the expl or pyrot chge. 

Some use has been made of V ores in pyrot smokes (Ref 5). V is the parent element of the expl and energetic compds entered below. Metallic V is non-toxic (Refs 1,6,7,13,14,15, 16 18)... 

Pyrots are mixts of fuels and oxidizers. The ignition and propagation of reaction mechanisms are similar to that discussed for expls and pro-pints. The reaction rate and ability to detonate is dependent on the specific materials involved, their particle size, the intimacy of the mix and confinement. Because some pyrot mixes on reacting produce very little gas, it is very unlikely that detonation could ever be achieved. An example of such a mix is Al/ferric oxide or Thermite. In other, mixes of highly reactive materials, Mg/K chlorate for example, detonation can readily be achieved... 

Coating of expl, proplnt and pyrot compositions 3 C380-C383... 

Decomposition, destruction and disposal of ammo, expls, proplnts and pyrot compns 3 D23—D35 alphabetical listing of procedures for individual expls proplnts 3 D29—D33 decomposition of expls 3 D23— D25 destruction and disposal of expls 3 D2S—D29... 

Detonability and flammability of expls, propints and pyrot compns 4 D211... 

Dumping at sea of ammo, expls, proplnts and pyrot items 5 D1569... 

Electrons and neutrons action on expls 5 E77 see Radiation effects on expls, propints and pyrots 9 R5-R75... 

The advent of the space age, the testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles, the use of space probes, the existence of radiation belts in outer space, and the increasing utilization of military and civilian satellites have triggered further studies on the effects of nuclear radiation on all types of materials, including expls, propints, pyrots and related materials. Nuclear radiation effects studies range from steady-state to transient environments, from ground zero to upper atmosphere levels and from underground nuclear tests to simulation techniques in the laboratory which in turn cover all phases of vulnerability and survivability... 

The radiation - induced changes noted are in weight loss, gas evolution, mechanical sensitivity, thermal sensitivity and stability, and ex pi performance. The effects will be described with the type of nuclear radiation used. The format describes the radiation effects on expls, propints and pyrots with the sequence of radiations utilized (when applicable) as follows, a - particles, neutrons, fission products, reactor radiation (fast and slo w neutrons plus gammas), gammas (7), underground testing (UGT), X-rays, electrons, and other nuclear radiations... 

The efforts made to-date to recover or recycle individual chemicals in each ammo component category ie, expls, proplnts and pyrots are presented next ... 

Advance planning for the possibility of an accident will greatly minimize the consequences. A common hazard is found when a bench scale operation is scaled up when this scale-up occurs in an overutilized laboratory area. Solvents in small and large quantities may be found in the immediate vicinity and batches of oxidizers, expls and similar hazardous ingredients may be present where they may be exposed to ignition by one or more mechanisms. Often other personnel are present within the structure not knowing of the potentially hazardous operations which are conducted in their immediate vicinity. Exits and walk-ways may be blocked by materia-als, equipment or personnel in transit. While there is no safe expl, proplnt or pyrot material, familiarity does breed complacency. We are reminded of a recent expl of a BlkPdr replica plant (Ref 80) which resulted in the loss of life and the destruction of the plant. Nevertheless,... 

McKown et al, Effects of Copper and Heavy Metals on the Sensitivity of Pyrotechnic Materials , Compat Plast Other Matl Expls, Propints, Pyrot Symp 1976,1-B CA 87, 103955 (1977) 44) S. Hulisz, Investigations on the... 

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