Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 9. 1ts May 1973

Foreign Explosives

Foreign Explosives

Foreign explosives and equipment should be used when available. Except for minor differences, foreign material is similar to American.

a. Principal Explosives. Many countries make TNT, dynamite and plastic explosives similar to American explosives. Table III shows standard explosives. It does not indicate the packaged size or form of the different explosives.

b. Characteristics of Foreign Explosives. A particular explosive produced by one nation is usually similar in characteristics to the same explosive produced in another nation. Minor differences in purity, density, ingredients, etc., may influence the performance of an explosive slightly; but the important characteristics particularly those of sensitivity and stability, are generally the same.

1. TNT. TNT is probably the most common explosive. It may be formed in different shapes, but its characteristics are similar to TNT manufactured in the United States since, chemically, they are the same (trinitrotoluene).

(2) Plastic explosives. Plastic explosives are manufactured by many countries and used for frontline demolition work. Their characteristics and performance are similar to those manufactured in the United States.

(3) Picric acid. TNP (Trinitrophenol) is slightly more powerful than TNT with a velocity of about 7,000 meters per second. It is a lemon-yellow, crystalline substance which may be identified by its tendency to dye water or material it may contact. It combines readily with some metals to form picrate (explosive) salts which are extremely sensitive to shock, friction, and heat. For this reason careful attention must be paid to packaging (usually paper or zinc Is used) and storage. Otherwise, TNP has the same general characteristics as TNT.

(4) Guncotton. The power of guncotton, which is a cellulose of high nitration, is directly influenced by moisture. Dry guncotton generally detonates at a velocity of 7,300 meters per second; when wet, the velocity velocity of detonation is about 5,500 meters per second. Dry guncotton is extremely sensitive to shock and should be used only for booster pellets and blasting caps.

(5) Nitroglycerin explosives. Standard, ammonia, and gelatin (Gelignite) dynamites are common in foreign countries. Granular or free-running dynamite is conventional for borehole loading and replaces black powder in some areas of the world. It usually is less sensitive than other dynamites because of the increase of ammonium nitrate or other compounds necessary to make it pour. Nobel's 808 is similar to blasting gelatin, being of a higher density though somewhat less sensitive. It has a hard, rubber like texture which tends to soften as the temperature is increased. Its color normally varies between green and brown.