This file was made to inform people not how 
to make explosive but the basic procedure,
how they are best used, and general information
about them.  By the freedom of information Act, I
hearby dissolve myself of any direct involvement
of anything that this file may contain.

1)  MODERN EXPLOSIVES

Modern Explosive can be divide into three main types:
        
        a) those based on unstable molecules
                i.e. Fulminates and azides
        
        b) ammonium nitrate and the organic eskers nitrocellulose
                i.e. Nitroglycerine and PETN
        
        c) nitro-compounds (the largest group)
                i.e. Picric Acid, TNT, Tetryl, and RDX

Explosives that act as deflagrating (slow velocities up to 1312 ft.  
or 400m) are called low order explosives or propellants; 
they generate gases at a slow enough rate for them to be used to 
propel rockets or shells. Also low order explosive are used in  
delicate minning operatiions because they have the ability to 
be controled to a great extent.  Explosives that react by detonation 
have the ability to shatter and are called high explosives.  They 
are used in bombs, explosive device, mining and so on.  It is common 
to find low order explosive to be used as a primer for high 
order explosives.  The properties of conventional chemical 
explosive are;  
                
                a) velocity of burning or detonation
                b) the explosive temperature
                c) the sensitivity
                d) and the power

For gunpowder, nitrate mixtures, and nitro compounds, an absolute 
measurement of sensitivity vs. power (we will be referring these to 
principles on a power scale and sensitivity scale) is available, but for 
others it is usual to compare it to a standard explosive, for this report 
i will be using Picric Acid.  Picric Acid will have a sensitivity level and 
explosive level of 100 that have a higher sensitivity level will be below 
100.  An explosive that has a sensitivity level of around 20 would 
usually be used for a detonator or primer, while those than set off an 
intermediate explosion of around 60-80, which than sets off the 
high explosives.  The higher the power of an explosive the 
higher the number.  As a general rule you could follow is that the   
sensitivity of an explosive is directly related to its power.

2)  BASIC EXPLOSIVE AND THE THINGS THAT MAKE THEM

A) Nitrocellulose--- (C H O (NO ) )
                       6 7 2   3 3

DESCRIPTION:
Develop in 1845 by Schonbein it is a mixture of nitric and sulfuric 
acids.  This chemical  is extremely acidic and can be formed into 
a low oredr explosive by just adding cotton to the acids (because 
of the stable mixture of di, tri- nitrates that cotton has).  
It can be easily gelled and has no reaction with water.  
Being that it can be gelled easily it forms a good primer to 
higher explosives.  It gets a 23 (VERY VERY sensitive) on the 
sensitivity scale, but when wet it receives a 120.  The velocity of 
the explosive detonation is 24,000 ft/s (7300 m/s) when wet it is 
only 18,000 ft/s (5500 m/s).  

B) Nitroglycerin--- (C H N O )
                      3 5 3 9

DESCRIPTION:
This highly dangerous explosive has a sensitivity level of about 13 
which makes it the most sensitive explosive known.  It can be 
solidified by adding 6 percent nitrocellulose or made into a gel  
like formula by adding 4 percent nitrocellulose.  Thus came dynamite
and blasting gelatine. Nitroglycerin detonates at 25,400 ft/s (7500 m/s),
and has a power rating of 160, and a temperature that reaches 8000 F
or 4400 C.

C) PETN (pentoerythritol tetranitrate)---  (C H N O  ) 
                                             5 8 4 12
COLOR: 
White when pure, light gray with the addition of waves and
oils 

COMPOSITION:
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate

DETONATION TEMPERATURE:
347 F,  175 C

STATE:
Fine crystalline or granted powder

STORAGE:
Good, it is usually stored wet when in bulk, NON-Hygroscopic

DESCRIPTION:
PETN is a VERY sensitive explosive at around 40, but respectively 
it has a very high powerful exposition which reads 166 on the power 
chart.  This is the explosive that the military is pouring millions of
their money into it to try to develop a improved method of 
detonating.  This explosive also is used in the small bombs,
car bombs, airplane bombs, so on... because of its low sensitivity
and high explosive power.  It explosive velocity is around 
26,500 ft/s or (8100 m/s).  What makes PETN so strange is that when
a small amount of pressure is exerted on it, it is INsensitive to any
kind of heat, or shock friction.  Thus making this one of the only
explosives that needs to be detonated by a blasting cap.

D) Picric Acid--- (C H (NO ) OH)
                    6 2   2 3

DESCRIPTION:
Picric Acid was developed in 1771, prepared by the filtration of
phenol.  It is known as the father of the aromatic nitrocompounds
since it was the first one developed.  Apart for people to use as 
a standard it has little value used today.

E) TNT (trinitrotoluene)--- (C H (NO )
                              7 5   2 3

DESCRIPTION:
This is made by reacting toluene with a nitrating mixture of nitric 
and sulfuric acids.  It has a low sensitivity of 110 and a not bad 
explosive charge of 95.  The thing that make TNT so popular is that 
with the right equipment (our own kitchens in the most case) it is very
cheap and easy to make.  Its velocity of detonation is at 23,000 ft/s 
(7000 m/s).  Also for added force and power it is usually mixed with
ammonium nitrates.  

F) Tetryl--- (C H N O )
               7 5 5 8
COLOR: 
Colorless when fresh and highly purified; turns yellow when  
exposed to light. Turns gray when loaded as an explosive
do to the graphite.

COMPOSITION:
A derivative of methylanilne, tetralite, tetrylite and Pyronite

DETONATING TEMPERATURE:
453 F,  234 C

SENSITIVITY:
It is fairly sensitive... It will explode by an impact of a bullet
or a spark. 

DESCRIPTION:
It is formed when dimethylaniline is nitrated.  It requires 
careful extraction and preparation for use as an explosive.  As it  
is very powdery and very toxic.  It has a power rating of 120 and 
a sensitivity level of 70.  Which makes it a good intermediate charge
because it has a substantial shockwave that could detonate even some
of the more stable high explosives.

G) RDX --- ((CH N.NO ) )
               2    2 3
COLOR:
White

COMPOSITION:
Cycltrimethylenetrinitramin

DETONATING TEMPERATURE:
455 F,  235 C

STATE:
Crystalline solid

STABILITY:
Very good, NON-hygroscopic, no effect by moisture

DESCRIPTION:
RDX is also called Hexogen or Cyclonite.  Developed in the early 20th
century it was known as the 'The explosive of all previous explosives'.
It deals with the nitration of heaxamethylenetetramine.  It is very   
powerful with a power rating of 167 and a sensitivity of 55.  This is
the explosive that is used as a bases of plastique explosives which
is mixed with oils, plastics, and waxes.  


