Model Organic Species and Explosives with Clay Minerals

Interactions of model organic species and explosives with clay minerals 

Explosives are classified as primary or secondary, based on their susceptibility to initiation. Primary explosives, which include lead azide and lead styphnate, are highly susceptible to initiation. Primary explosives often are referred to as initiating explosives because they can be used to ignite secondary explosives. Secondary explosives, which include 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-l,3,5-trinitro-l,3,5-triazine (RDX or cyclonite), high melting explosives (HMX) like octahydro-l,3,5,7-tetranitro-l,3,5,7-tetrazine (HMX), 

Propellants include both rocket and gun propellants. Most rocket propellants are either Hazard Class 1.3 composites, which are based on a rubber binder, and ammonium perchlorate (AP) oxidizer, and a powdered aluminum (Al) fuel or Hazard Class 1.1 composites, which are based on a nitrate ester, usually nitroglycerine (NG), nitrocellulose (NC), HMX, AP, or polymer-bound NC. If a binder is used, it usually is an isocyanate-cured polyester or polyether. Some propellants contain combustion modifiers, such as lead oxide. 

Gun propellants usually are single base (NC), double base (NC and NG), or triple base (NC, NG, and nitroguanidine (NQ)). Some of the newer, lower vulnerability gun propellants contain binders and crystalline explosives and thus are similar to PBX. 

Pyrotechnics include illuminating flares, signaling flares, colored and white smoke generators, tracers, incendiary delays, fuses, and photo-flash compounds. Pyrotechnics usually are composed of an inorganic oxidizer and metal powder in a binder. Illuminating flares contain sodium nitrate, magnesium, and a binder. Signaling flares contain barium, strontium, or other metal nitrates [1]. 

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