52 lines
3.2 KiB
Plaintext
52 lines
3.2 KiB
Plaintext
|
80/20 Amatol.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Amatol was developed by the British in World War I as a way of conserving
|
|||
|
|
their meager TNT supplies. It is composed of AN and TNT in varying ratios,
|
|||
|
|
the most common being 80/20. It is slightly more effecient than TNT when
|
|||
|
|
used in breaching charges, but since it contains AN it is somewhat hygro-
|
|||
|
|
scopic and must be well sealed against moisture. It has a detonation vel-
|
|||
|
|
ocity of 16,000 feet per second, almost twice that of straight AN. It is
|
|||
|
|
very insensitive, and while this makes it safe to handle (in fact, the
|
|||
|
|
blocks can be cut up with a hand saw), it can also make it harder to det-
|
|||
|
|
onate.
|
|||
|
|
To be on the safe side, a booster should be added. One way to accomplish
|
|||
|
|
this is to bore a booster well into the cast block using a 3/4-inch wood
|
|||
|
|
drill bit. Dissolve some of the leftover TNT in hot acetone, pour the res-
|
|||
|
|
ulting solution into a container of cold water, and stir vigorously. The TNT
|
|||
|
|
will precipitate out of the liquid in its crystalline form, which is the
|
|||
|
|
most sensitive type. These crystals are pressed into the booster cavity
|
|||
|
|
using heavy hand pressure, leaving a hole in which to insert the detonator.
|
|||
|
|
A standard No.8 blasting cap will initiate the TNT, which in turn will det-
|
|||
|
|
onate the amatol. If properly packaged, amatol can be stored for long per-
|
|||
|
|
iods of time with no change in sensitivity, power, or stability.
|
|||
|
|
As an interesting aside, amatol was used early in World War II, but a
|
|||
|
|
Canadian TNT plant changed things. Though the company had never manufactured
|
|||
|
|
TNT before, production was unusually high. When the inspectors went to find
|
|||
|
|
out why, they found the normal manufacturing process had been reversed.
|
|||
|
|
Since this "mistake" increased output to more than three times that of any
|
|||
|
|
other comparably sized plant, all other TNT manufacturers adopted it. So
|
|||
|
|
much TNT was produced that there was no longer any need for amatol, and it
|
|||
|
|
was phased out.
|
|||
|
|
Amatol production is an excellent way of stretching an explosives supply,
|
|||
|
|
getting more bang for your buck, as it were. It is not as safe to make as
|
|||
|
|
some other high explosives since it uses molten TNT (very shock-sensitive),
|
|||
|
|
but it should present no trouble if reasonable care is exercised.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Procedure:
|
|||
|
|
1) Heat a kettle containing eight parts finely powdered ammonium nitrate
|
|||
|
|
to 90<39>C on a water bath. A flour grinder at low speed is adequate for
|
|||
|
|
powdering the AN. Seal the receiving container immediately after grin-
|
|||
|
|
ding the AN, as it will absorb moisture from the air.
|
|||
|
|
2) Heat a second kettle containing two parts TNT on a water bath until
|
|||
|
|
the TNT is melted.
|
|||
|
|
3) Pour the TNT into the first kettle containing the AN and stir until
|
|||
|
|
completely mixed. The amatol will resemble wet brown sugar and have
|
|||
|
|
a consistent color and texture when properly mixed.
|
|||
|
|
4) Pour the amatol into block molds or charge containers while it is
|
|||
|
|
still hot. Use a cover to gently press the surface for maximum density
|
|||
|
|
and to remove air bubbles. It is important that the blocks are protec-
|
|||
|
|
ted from dampness or other moisture. Sealing them in plasticbags is a
|
|||
|
|
good method, as is wrapping them in wax paper and dipping them in wax.
|
|||
|
|
Be sure to form a cap well before they are sealed.
|
|||
|
|
|