As a military explosive, rdx can be used alone as a base charge for detonators or mixed with another explosive such as tnt to form cyclotols, which. Rdx was widely used during world war il, often in explosive mixtures with tnt such torpex tnt 42%,rdx 40% and aluminium 18%. The mixture of chemicals in a kitchen match is in many ways quite similar to black powder. List of explosive materials vanderbilt environmental. Twice as deadly as tnt and overshadowed only by the atomic bomb, this. It is also known as octogen and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine, as well as by other names.
With few exceptions, denser explosives give higher detonation velocities and pressures. A general theory of explosives is that the detonation of the explosives charge. History of explosives free download as powerpoint presentation. In this report, aerobic biodegradation of octahydro1,3,5,7tetranitro1,3,5,7tetrazocine or high melting explosive hmx, a highly explosive chemical by planomicrobium flavidum strain s5tsa19, an isolate from an explosivecontaminated soil, was investigated. History with a bang and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Revised and expanded to reflect new developments in the field, this book outlines the basic principles required to understand the chemical processes of explosives.
Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Popcorn botanical name zea mays everata sturt taste typical odor odourless, no foreign odours color typical, yelloworange typical production area expansion 3840, 4042, 4244, 4446, 4648, mushroom packing paper bags 20kg and 50lb and polypaper bags 20kg and 50lb loading 20 feet. Mainly the composition of the plastic explosive contains energetic material bonded by desensitizing polymeric matrix 1,2. Gel dynamite is very cheap compared to rdx and hmx. Analysis and trends most powerful solid explosive produced on large scale in u. Domestically only manufactured in the holston army ammunition plant in kingsport, tn outside of u.
The superexplosive that helped win world war ii baxter. An explosive charge is a measured quantity of explosive material, which may either be composed solely of one ingredient or be a mixture containing at least two. About 8% to 10% of the yield from the bachmann rdx production method is hmx. Product identifier product name hmx chemical name 1,3,5,7tetranitro1,3,5,7tetraazacyklooktan reach reg no. This turned out to be an even more explosive, denser molecule, cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine, now known as hmx. It has been found out that the activation energies of hmx, petn and. It is a colorless solid that dissolves slightly in water. While this plasticbound explosive has achieved a higher level of stability by separating the cl20 crystals, the power of the explosive is reduced to roughly the hmx level. The use of hmx as a propellant and in maximumperformance explosives is increasing army 1989. It is more stable than rdx and has an even higher detonation velocity. Cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine hmx science toys.
The new trend in the field of plastic explosive is the addition of advanced inexpensive energetic materials to enlarge the performance. Bachmann process for rdx was found to be richer in hmx than the united kingdoms rdx and there is a suggestion that this later led to a hmx plant being set up at rof bridgwater in 1955. The isolate s5tsa19 degraded 70% of hmx in 20 days during which time nitrite ion was produced with the subsequent formation of. The addition of an explosive ingredient, such as tnt, in sufficient quantity. Hmx qualities matching the mildtl45444c and stanag 4284 specifications. Predicted data is generated using the us environmental protection agencys episuite. Like rdx, the compounds name is the subject of much speculation, having been variously listed as high melting explosive, her majestys explosive, highvelocity military explosive, or highmolecularweight rdx the molecular structure of hmx consists of an eightmembered. You can smell the sulfur, and from the rapid flare of the first strike, you can tell. This introductory chapter narrates how the field of explosives and propellants has. It is also known as octogen and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine, as well as.
The raw materials are mixed in a twostep process and the product is purified by recrystallization. Studies on yield improvement of high melting explosive hmx. Reviewed in the united states on september 10, 2019. Bulk hmx, hns, petn, rdx and tnt based explosives are available in pure formulations or desensitized for specific applications. The samples had been collected on glass fiber filters. It may be found mixed with other explosives, specifically trinitrotoluene tnt and royal demolition explosive rdx. Chapter 8 describes tetryl, 2,4,6trinitrophenylntiramine, which has since been supplanted by the chemically related rdx and hmx, some the most explosive compounds in use. List of explosives more powerful than hmx i want to propose creating a thread, or making this thread, for educational purposes, a list of explosives possesing vod higher than hmx, with density data included. From the gasoline explosions that move those oldfashioned nonelectric cars to the match that lights the fire in the fireplace, explosives have been a part of daily life for most of the worlds population for some time. Desensitized products are coated with wax or polymer binders and mixed with graphite or other compounds to improve their material flow properties. Rdx is an organic compound with the formula o 2 nnch 2 3.
Pdf explosive characteristics of aluminized hmxbased. Hmx and compositions available in all standard grain sizes, hmx is used in a variety of. Chemical decomposition models have been deduced from the available chemical kinetic data on the thermal decomposition of hmx, tatb, rdx, and tnt. A more energetic explosive than tnt, it was used widely in world war ii and. Aerobic biodegradation of hmx by planomicrobium flavidum. For free running explosives, the density is often specified as the pounds of explosives per foot of charge length in a given size borehole. Crystallization and characterization of rdx, hmx, and cl. Plastic explosives are produced by several companies and commercially available under different trade names. C06b high melting explosive hmx is one of the most brisant military explosive and is used extensively in shaped charges, plastic bonded explosives and nitramine based propellants. The appendices at the end of the chapter give the major milestones in the history of highenergy materials hems and. Hmx was initially obtained as an impurity during yield improvement.
The books 22 chapters cover specific explosives, uses, or groups of. Johnson author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. An explosive or explosive material is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. Hmx octogen is an acronym for high melting explosive. A brief history of explosives in the home science toys. Chemicaldecomposition models for the thermal explosion of. Explosives have always been and are an interesting topic for man. Lovex paste extrudable explosives history and current. Furthermore, the shock sensitivity of these explosives, when incorporated in a socalled plastic bonded explosive pbx, will be discussed in more detail. Hmx, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive nitroamine high explosive, chemically related to rdx. How much would 380 tonns of hmx and rdx explosives cost. It was synthesized as an explosive more influential than tnt, and it was broadly used in world war ii. High melting explosive hmx is the highestenergy solid explosive produced on a large scale in the united states.
This report describes the analytical procedure developed. Toxic effects this section is for information only and should not be taken as the basis of osha policy. But buying large amounts or certain kinds can raise flags. A new method of preparing the high explosive rdx journal of the. Hmx octahydro1,3,5,7tetranitro1,3,5,7tetrazocine also is known as high melting explosive. Enhancing the explosive characteristics of a semtex. One of the most important results is a direct correlation between the mean density of the.
The history of the explosive that changed the world jack kelly. I think a lot of our members would appreciate including myself such a comprehensive list even if its just for expanding our knowledge. Density is an important consideration when choosing an explosive. A new method of preparing the high explosive rdx journal. Explosive characteristics of aluminized hmxbased nanocomposites article pdf available in combustion explosion and shock waves 442.
Rdx is an organic compound with the formula o2nnch23. When bachmann and sheehan were developing their method of manufacturing rdx, sheehan isolated another explosive compound during the purification process. List of explosive materials the following list was obtained from the 2010 list of explosive materials as provided by the bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms. The material is a little dated, as many of the explosives discovered after 1943 are left out hmx, cl20, etc. Hmx is used to implode fissionable material in nuclear devices to achieve critical mass and as a component of plasticbonded explosives, solid fuel rocket propellants, and as burster chargers in military munitions epa 1988. A thermal conduction model is used in which the thermal conductivity of the reacting explosive decreases linearly with the mass fraction reacted to that of the gaseous products. Rdx is a nitramine explosive compound turley and brewster 1987 that can be utilized as a propellant, gunpowder, or high explosive depending on the initiation type boileau et al. O hmx foi isolado pela primeira vez acidentalmente, em 1940 por w.
The secret history of rdx the university press of kentucky. Thermal decomposition progress with hmx explosives discussion data is applicable to shaped charges only reminder. It is a white solid without smell or taste, widely used as an explosive. Structurally modified rdx a dft study sciencedirect. Introduction to explosives for official use only hmx. In this paper, a selection of the results obtained on the crystallization of the energetic materials rdx, hmx, and cl20 will be briefly reported. Baxter documents the journey of the super explosive.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Hmx as a military explosive paperback january 1, 1956 by o. Hmxbased compositions available according to nato standard or customertailored specifications. The history of explosives parallels the history of chemistry for the most part. The text on the classification of explosive materials contains much data on the physical parameters of primary. Identification of the substancemixture and of the companyundertaking date issued 10.
Evolution in this field has been constant and has spelled both boon and bane for mankind. Only a small amount of hmx octogen will evaporate into the air. Pdf biodegradation of the explosives tnt, rdx and hmx. A more energetic explosive than tnt, it was used widely in world war ii and remains common in military applications. Chemically, it is classified as a nitramide, chemically similar to hmx. Rdx, known as research department explosive, is a nitramine type explosive so long extensively employed in army and industrial applications. Ie buying c4 rdx based plastic explosive to blow up stumps and beaver dams, i think someone would check up. The secret history of rdx and millions of other books are available for. History of explosives explosive material explosion.
The osha analytical laboratory received a set of samples with a request for the analysis of hmx. The chemistry of explosives provides an overview of the history of explosives, taking the reader to future developments. Hmx is produced at military arsenals and is used as an explosive in military munitions. The text on the classification of explosive materials contains much data on the physical parameters of primary and secondary explosives.
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