The Chemistry of Explosives

Abstract

This concise, easy-to-read book outlines the basic principles needed to understand the chemical mechanisms of explosion. Written for students with no previous knowledge of explosives but some understanding of chemical reactions in mind, it takes the reader through the history of explosives and introduces the concepts of high explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics. Covering combustion, deflagration, and detonation; ignition, initiation, and thermal decomposition; thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics, the text includes detailed formulations and reactions presented with thermochemical calculations to aid understanding. This edition includes environmental legislation and its impact on explosives, together with a section on safety hazard tests. It also contains the latest developments in synthesis and manufacturing of explosives. Covering all aspects of the properties of explosives, The Chemistry of Explosives is a unique text which introduces difficult subjects in a readable manner. Ideal for A-level students and new graduates with no previous knowledge of explosive materials, it will also be useful to anyone needing succinct information on the subject, such as the more experienced chemist in the explosives sector.

Hydrogen bond directed high-fidelity optical detection of picric acid: A single driver on diverse roads towards the same destiny

“…PA is exceptionally violent; it is more violent than trinitrotoluene (TNT), the most used explosive in the First World War. 1,4 However, PA has roles in the dye industry, 5 as ignitors of fireworks and matchboxes, 6 as rocket fuel, 6 in curing burns, 7 etc. Therefore, production of PA cannot be avoided, rather, a policy should be made to prevent its reckless use as an explosive while at the same time maintaining an uninterruptable and convenient supply chain for industries.…”

“…A high-degree of contamination of PA may lead to multiple organ dysfunction involving irregular liver function, kidney malfunction, sycosis, respiratory dysfunction, mutagenic effects, etc. 4,[8][9][10] Therefore, the detection of PA is important and compulsory. PA can be detected using several techniques, such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), 11 mass spectrometry, 12,13 enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), 14 dynamic light scattering, 15 high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), 16 electrochemical sensing, 17,18 and colorimetric and fluorescence (optical) detection.…”

Design and synthesis of phenylene-bridged isoxazole and tetrazole-1-ol based energetic materials of low sensitivity

“…Energetic materials (EMs) attract extensive attention from the scientific community because of their wide range of applications as propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics. [1][2][3][4] In the last few decades many interesting, energetic materials have been designed and subsequently synthesized including octanitrocubane (ONC), 5 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitrohexaaza-isowurtizitane (CL-20), 6 4,10-dinitro-2,6,8,12-tetra-oxa-4,10-diazatetracyclo[5.5.0.0 5,9 .0 3,11 ]-dodecane (TEX), 7a formamidinium nitroformate (FANF), 7b 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), 8 dihydroxylammonium-5,5′-bistetrazolyl-1,1′-diolate (TKX-50), 9 and 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX). 10 In addition to these well-known energetic compounds, a few aromatic energetic materials such as 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-1,3,5-triamine (TATB), 11 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 11 picric acid (PA), 4 and 2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-hexanitrostilbene (HNS) 12 also attract the attention of materials chemists due to their high stability and good performance.…”

Initial Decomposition of DATB Induced by an External Electric Field

“…1,2 This kind of material has been widely used and researched in military and industrial fields because of its high performance and insensitive characteristics. 3,4 Among them, 1,3-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (DATB), namely, C 6 H 5 N 5 O 6 , is a nitro aromatic explosive with low sensitivity, high stability, and many other excellent properties. 5−9 The one particular characteristic of the DATB molecule is its planar structure, and the molecules can be connected by hydrogen bonds into linear chains.…”