Primary explosives classification

Sensitivity Very low (requires primary explosive) Classification Secondary explosive... 

The above classifications are not strictly applicable to the sensitivity of an explosive. Although it is true that most primary explosives are more sensitive than most secondary explosives, certain low explosives, eg Black Powder, are more sensitive than many secondary or even primary explosives... 

Classifying explosives by the presence of certain molecular groups does not give any information on the performance of the explosive. A far better way of classification is by performance and uses. Using this classification, explosives can be divided into three classes (i) primary explosives, (ii) secondary explosives, and (iii) propellants as shown in Figure 2.1. 

Sensitivity Easily detonated Classification Primary explosive... 

Sensitivity Detonates rather easily Classification A primary explosive... 

One more remark should be added to the behaviour of initiators as under (I) and (II) - still higher vacuum should be examined. Perliaps under pressure lower than 10 torr the primary explosives of groups (1) and (U) may behave differently from above and decompose witliout explosion. Thus the classification as above is valid only in limits for vacuum application. 

Another common classification of chemical explosives is primary or secondary. Primary explosives are highly unstable and are sensitive to heat or shock. Secondary explosives are also unstable compounds, but their sensitivity to heat or shock is lower than that of primary explosives. A booster is used to bring about detonation. Many polynitro explosives fall under the latter class. Whether... 

There is a vast array of energetic materiald that falls mder the sensitivity classification of primary explosives. When the complexity and extent of primer explosives are multiplied by all the different ways manufacturers use initiation devices, the subject becomes extremely voluminous. Rather than cover all these materials and their applications, we noil concentrate on only those most commonly used in the construction of such initiation systems as blasting caps and primers. Figure 13 contains some of the physical attributes of common primary explosives. 

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