84 lines
4.8 KiB
Plaintext
84 lines
4.8 KiB
Plaintext
How To Make Low Explosives
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Up to this point, I have referred only to high explosives, but there
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are many formulas for low explosives, which, although they do not have the
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power or impact of the high explosives, are generally speaking safer to use
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and handle. It may seem at first that an explosive compound that has less
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power is a disadvantage, but this is not true. If a high-explosive charge were
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used to set off a bullet in a gun, the gun would probably explode in the
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user's face. Therefore, low explosives have a definite purpose and use, and
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are not interchangeable with high explosives. Although I stated above that,
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generally speaking, low explosives are more stable than high explosives, there
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are some low-explosive compounds that are as dangerous as high-explosive
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compounds, if not more so. Below is a chart of the most common low-explosive
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compounds and their stabilities and merit.
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[Potassium and sodium nitrate gunpowders]: These are without a doubt one of
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the safest low explosives to handle. They are especially good when
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packed into a tight container, and exploded under pressure.
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[Smokeless powder]: This type of low explosive is much like the one mentioned
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above, in the sense that it is extremely stable, but it is much more
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powerful. It also needs the element of pressure in the actual
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demolition work.
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[Potassium chlorates with sulfates]: Any mixture of potassium or sodium
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chlorates should be avoided at all costs, since most combinations will
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explode immediately, on formation, and those that don't are extremely
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unstable and likely to explode at any time.
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[Ammonium nitrate with chlorates]: This is similar to the compounds discussed
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above. These are extremely hazardous compounds, with very unstable
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ingredients.
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[Potassium chlorate and red phosphorus]: This combination is probably the
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most unstable and highly sensitive of all the low explosives. It will
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explode immediately and violently upon formation, even in the open
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when not under pressure.
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[Aluminum or megnesium with potassium chlorate or sodium peroxide]: Any of
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these combinations, although not quite as unstable as the one
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discussed above, is still too sensitive to experiment or play around
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with.
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[Barium chlorate with shellac gums]: Any mixture employing either barium or
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barium nitrate and carbon, or barium chlorate and any other substance,
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must be given great care. Barium nitrate and strontium nitrate mixed
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together form a very sensitive explosive, but the danger is greatly
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increased with the addition of charcoal, or carbon.
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[Barium and strontium nitrate with aluminum and potassium perchlorate]: This
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combination is relatively safe, as is the combination of barium
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nitrate and sulfur, potassium nitrate, and most other powdered metals.
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[Guanidine nitrate and a combustible]: This combination of guanidine nitrate
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and a combustible (i.e. powdered antimony) is one of the safest of all
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low explosives.
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[Potassium bichromate and potassium permanganate]: This is a very sensitive
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and unstable compound, and should be avoided, as it is really too
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hazardous to work with or handle.
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The low-explosive reaction is based on the principle of a combustible
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material combined with an oxidizing agent, in other words combining a material
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that burns easily with another material which in the chemical reaction will
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supply the necessary oxygen for the combustible's consumption. Listed below
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are the most common low-explosive combinations of oxidizing agents and
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combustibles. The first ingredient listed is the oxidizer, and the second is
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the combustible:
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[1> Nitric acid and resin.
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[2> Barium nitrate and magnesium.
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[3> Ammonium nitrate and powdered aluminum.
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[4> Barium peroxide and zinc dust.
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[5> Ammonium perchlorate and asphaltum.
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[6> Sodium chlorate and shellac gum.
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[7> Potassium nitrate and charcoal.
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[8> Sodium peroxide and flowers of sulfur.
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[9> Magnesium perchlorate and woodmeal.
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[10> Potassium perchlorate and cane sugar.
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[11> Sodium nitrate and sulfur flour.
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[12> Potassium bichromate and antimony sulfide.
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[13> Guanidine nitrate and powdered antimony.
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[14> Potassium chlorate and red phosphorus.
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[15> Potassium permanganate and powdered sugar.
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[16> Barium chlorate and parrafin wax.
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The combinations that are most unstable and sensitive are numbers 3,
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5, 7, 13, 14, 15, and 16. These should be avoided.
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