Peroxide explosives

This is exactly what happens when hydrogen peroxide, which contains traces of nitric acid, is present. The mercury peroxide obtained detonates on friction or impact. The oxide decomposes hydrogen peroxide explosively without nitric acid. 

The peroxide explosives TATP and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD) have become popular with terrorists because they are easily prepared from readily obtainable ingredients, although the synthesis is fraught with danger (Figure 2). 

The unusual danger to pubHc safety in the case of peroxide explosives is not their explosive performance but their ease of initiation and the ease with which terrorists have acquired and used the materials for their synthesis, although synthesis is actually quite hazardous. Both TATP and HMTD are classed as primary explosives. For example, Richard Reid, the would-be shoe bomber, used TATP as part of his firing train in the attempted bombing of a US airfiner in December 2001, or the use of HMTD in the London bombings of 7 July 2005. HMTD was also one of the materials prepared and carried over the US/Canadian border in December 1999 by Ahmed Ressam as the ingredient for the initiators of his devices. 

GJ. McKay, Forensic Characteristics of Organic Peroxide Explosives (TATP, DADP and HMTD), Proc. 1st Int. Symp. Energetic Mater. Appl. (ISEM2002)(15—17 May 2002, Tokyo, Japan). 

X. Xu, A.M. van der Craats, E.M. Kok and P.C.A.M. de Bruyn, Trace analysis of peroxide explosives by high performance liquid chromatography — atmospheric pressure chemical ionization — tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCl-MS/MS) for forensic applications ,... 

There are four types of explosives that do not contain nitro groups inorganic oxidizers (in combination with any fuel), peroxide explosives, primary explosives, and newly developed high-nitrogen explosives. Chapter 3 discusses both the inorganic oxidizers—principally nitrate or chlorate-based and peroxide explosives—TATP and HMTD. We have previously reported on the thermal stabilities... 

Peroxide explosives are potent explosives that can be made starting from common and easy to obtain raw materials. The analysis of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylenetriper-oxidediamine (HMTD) was successfully carried out by HPLC-APCI-MS in a powder sample as well as in post-blast extracts originating from a forensic case [134]. After RP separation on a C18 column using a methanohwater (75 25 v/v) mobile phase containing ammonium acetate (2.5mM) at a 0.4mL/min flow rate, detection was carried out in positive ion mode. MS-MS analysis of [TATPh-NH4]+ and [HMTD - H]+ as precursor ions was necessary in order to achieve the required sensitivity in the analysis of postblast extracts (LOD 0.8 and 0.08 ng on column, respectively). 

Inspired by the effective post-column photochemical conversion of hydroperoxides and peroxides to H2O2 just described, a method was developed for trace analysis of peroxide explosives, such as triacetone triperoxide (251) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (252). These are powerful explosives with no commercial or military applications because... 

Criegee s mechanism, ozonolysis, 606, 685, 716-17, 721, 726, 729 Criminals, dialkyl peroxide explosives, 708 Cross-hnking... 

Teeth whiteners, percarbamide, 623 Temperature, reaction rates, 903-12 Terminal olefins, selenide-catalyzed epoxidation, 384-5 a-Terpinene, peroxide synthesis, 706 a-Terpineol, preparation, 790 Terrorists, dialkyl peroxide explosives, 708 Tertiary amines, dioxirane oxidation, 1152 Tertiary hydroperoxides, structural characterization, 690-1... 

When cellulose is treated with concentrated H202(60%) the resulting mixture is explosive (see Hydrogen Peroxide Explosives)... 

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