Nitroglycerine secondary explosives

Secondary explosives (also known as high explosives) are different from primary explosives in that they cannot be detonated readily by heat or shock and are generally more powerful. Secondary explosives can be initiated to detonation only by a shock produced by the explosion of a primary explosive. Widely used secondary explosives include trinitrotoluene (TNT), tetryl, picric acid, nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, nitroguanidine, cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylenetetranit-... 

Examples of secondary explosives are TNT, tetryl, picric acid, nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, nitroguanidine, RDX, HMX and TATB. Examples of commercial secondary explosives are blasting gelatine, guhr dynamite and 60% gelatine dynamite. 

Nitroglycerine is a very powerful secondary explosive with a high brisance, i.e. shattering effect, and it is one of the most important and frequently-used components for gelatinous commercial explosives. Nitroglycerine also provides a source of high energy in propellant compositions, and in combination with nitrocellulose and stabilizers it is the principal component of explosive powders and solid rocket propellants. 

Belyaev s experimental studies related to liquid secondary explosive materials—methylnitrate, nitroglycol, nitroglycerine—and to secondary explosive materials which are solid at room temperature, but which melt when ignited—trotyl, picric acid, etc. 

Above we presented the question of non-steady combustion applied to secondary explosive materials. With respect to the combustion of smokeless powder, a possible complicating factor is its multicomponent composition. Of interest in this connection is the fact cited by Andreev [15] of steady combustion of nitroglycerin gelated by 1% nitrocellulose. In the case of smoky powders and pipe mixtures the role of condensed combustion products which adhere to the burning surface and accumulate heat may be important. 

Secondary explosives, or high explosives, are generally less sensitive to heat and shock than primary explosives and are therefore safer to manufacture, transport, and handle. Most secondary explosives will simply burn rather than explode when ignited in air, and most can be detonated only by the nearby explosion of a primary initiator. Among the most common secondary explosives are nitroglycerin, trinitrotoluene (TNT), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), and RDX. 

Secondary Explosives Nitroglycerin Pentaerythritol tetranitrate Trinitrotoluene Ethyleneglycol dinitrate Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (Hexogen or Cyclonite) Cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (Octogen)... 

A famous secondary explosive of the nitrated alcohol group, commonly called nitroglycerine, is itself allot more stable then most people have been lead to believe. Hollywood movies and TV programs tend to over inflate the sensitivity of nitroglycerine. Other secondary explosives with similar properties have been over come with the same stereotypes. 

The liquid is widely used when admixed with nitroglycerine for cold weather resistant dynamites and blasting compositions, It can be slurried with nitrocellulose, nitro starch, and other secondary explosives for use in blasting dynamites. EGDN is also... 

DNAN forms colorless crystals with a melting point of 120 Celsius. It is fairly soluble in hot water, hot ethanol, methanol, and acetone. It is less soluble in cold water, cold ethanol, and insoluble in chloroform, benzene, ether, and petroleum ether. DNAN is somewhat hygroscopic, and moisture slowly decomposes it—should be stored in a desiccator. A small sample bums leaving a residue of carbon when ignited—a small sample can be detonated by the blow of a hammer. DNAN can be used in explosive compositions when alloyed with TNT, or other low melting secondary explosives, gun propellants with nitrocellulose, nitro starch, or nitroglycerine, and rocket propellants when mixed with ammonium perchlorate. DNAN also demonstrates usefulness for priming mixtures with lead azide, lead styphnate, or diazodinitrophenol, and for use in fireworks. ... 

MC found primarily at impact areas and tiring lines of U.S. military testing and training ranges often consist of mixtures of residues from several MC. These may include the nitroaromatic explosive compounds 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4- and 2,6-dinitro-toluene (DNT), and trinitrophenylmethylnitramine (tetryl) nitrate esters such as nitrocellulose (NC), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), and nitroglycerin (NG) and the nitramine compounds, hexahydro-l,3,5-trinitro-l,3,5-triazine (RDX) and octahydro-l,3,5,7-tetranitro-l,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX). Most of these MC have been in use for decades, either as primary or secondary explosives or in propellant compositions. 

Secondary explosives, those that do not easily go from deflagration to detonation, do not initiate electrostatically with ease, and require larger shocks to detonate. They include nitrocellulose, PETN, and desensitized nitroglycerine. 

The first commercial secondary explosive was produced by Alfred Nobel in the mid-1800s. Nobel s family owned a construction company, and he realized that a secondary explosive would be helpful for building roads (by blowing up mountains that stood in the way). However, at the time, there were no strong explosives safe enough to handle. Nobel focused his efforts on finding a way to stabilize nitroglycerin ... 

Secondary high explosive. Main charge in many military munitions Nitroglycerin... 

Since C4 is an underoxidized explosive, the first candidate energetic materials considered are oxygen balanced or oxygen rich, nitroguanidine (NQ), and nitroglycerin (NG). Interestingly, lower fireball gas temperatures are predicted. This is because excess oxygen is entrained in the fireball which dilutes the secondary combustion. 

Appendix 2 — Secondary High Explosives A2.1 TNT A2.2 Nitrostarch A2.3 Tetryl A2.4 RDX A2.5 Nitroglycerin A2.6 Commercial Dynamite A2.7 Military Dynamite A2.8 Amatol A2.9 PETN A2.10 Blasting Gelatin A2.11 Composition B A2.12 Composition C4 A2.13 Ammonium Nitrate Colophon... 

---