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+-------------------------------------+
+ Basic Explosives by Milamber +
+ Part I: +
+ How and Why +
+-------------------------------------+
+ Thanx to the following: +
+ The Lich <- J.C. -> +
+ The Gray Mouser Mr. Roshto +
+ The Rebel +
+ The Motor City Madman +
+ And countless others....... +
+-------------------------------------+
+ An Underground Library File +
+-------------------------------------+
Many people believe that making explosives is a highly dangerous task. In
truth, however, the modern explosives are not that dangerous to make. Note: I
said Modern. Nitroglycerin not included! Making T.N.T. is a fairly safe
procedure whereas making Nitro is a dangerous process that should be done
very carefully. The Secondary explosives are hard to make, but are the safest.
The Primary explosives are used to detonate the Secondary explosives, and are
much more sensitive. These should be made with extreme caution. I suggest
you raid your local college library on explosives, AND most definitely take
ALL chemistry classes offered by your school, Honors classes, if at all
possible. Understand, however, the production of explosives is not a game!
How & Why Explosives Work
-------------------------
Explosives, are chemical (for the most part) substances that change SUDDENLY
to hot gases when detonated in some manner. These gases expand with terrific
force and exert pressure upon their surroundings. When ordinary gunpowder goes
off in an enclosed space it increases the pressure within that space 6,000
times! High explosives, such as dynamite, T.N.T. and Nitroglycerin are far
more powerful. Mercury fulminate, one of the most violent high explosives, can
develop a pressure of 200 tons per square inch!
What causes this sudden release of gases? To understand this, we must
understand that many liquids and solids are composed in whole or in part by
gases. Water, for example, is composed of Hydrogen and Oxygen. Mercury
fulminate is composed of of Mercury, Oxygen, Carbon and Nitrogen. Water is
not explosive, while mercury fulminate is. This is because the hydrogen and
oxygen are friendly to each other, they are linked by a strong chemical action
and cannot be seperated without energy. [A reaction that requires energy is
referred to as an endothermic reaction] Mercury fulminate, however, is an
unstable compound, and its componets do not get along well together - they are
constantly looking for an excuse to split. If struck or rubbed or pressed they
fly apart very suddenly.
Instead of the solid Mercury Fulminate we now have two gases - nitrogen and
carbon monoxide - and mercury vapor. These gases now occupy vastly more space
than before. It is this sudden and violent expansion which causes the
explosion.
From this knowledge, any substance which breaks up easily and suddenly,
producing a large volume of gas, is an explosive. There are some, like
Nitrogen Iodide that a fly could set it off. There are others that can be
detonated by only, electricity, another explosive, fire, pressure, or some of
these or all.
Broadly speaking, explosives may be of two kinds, detonating (i.e. Mercury
Fulminate) or rapid-burning (i.e. Gunpowder). In a rapid-burning explosive,
a flame starts at one point, and spreads rapidly over the entire mass. A
detonating explosive, however, breaks its chemical bonds almost all at the same
time - which is MUCH more violent. Some explosives exhibit both of these
qualities - TNT, when lit, is not a very powerful explosive, but in response to
a blasting cap, becomes EXTREMELY violent.
Explosives which are to be used for practical uses, cannot depend on the air
for their supply of Oxygen. (Oxygen is required for combustion, remember?)
This is why most explosives contain oxygen in some way. A few detonating
explosives, such as Nitrogen Iodide, contain no oxygen, they rely on the heat
generated by the break to caus
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