Omar Khalid
Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable solid explosives. They are especially suited for explosive demolition and can be easily formed into ideal shapes for cutting structural members. The first plastic explosive was gelignite, invented in 1875. Plastic explosives are not detonated by physical shocks such as being dropped or shot, or by fire or microwaves. They can only be detonated by a shockwave, such as from a detonator or blasting cap.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | An explosive material in flexible or elastic sheet form formulated with one or more high explosives which in their pure form has a vapor pressure of less than 10 Pa at a temperature of 25 °C, is formulated with a binder material, and is a mixture malleable or flexible at normal room temperature. |
| Common Types | Semtex, C-4, Gelignite |
| Texture | Similar to modelling clay or plasticine |
| Sensitivity | Insensitive to most physical shocks, burning, and exposure to microwaves. Can be detonated by a shockwave from a detonator or blasting cap. |
| Toxicity | Produces poisonous fumes when burned |
| Usage | Demolition charges, anti-tank shells, grenades, mortar warheads, I-beam cutting, mine-clearing |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Plastic explosives are soft, hand-mouldable explosives, also known as putty explosives or blastics
- C-4, a common plastic explosive, is insensitive to most physical shocks and can only be detonated by a shockwave
- C-4 is composed of explosives, a plastic binder, a plasticizer, and a marker or odorizing taggant chemical
- C-4 is stable and can be easily moulded into any shape to change the direction of the resulting explosion
- The British used a plastic explosive, Composition C, during World War II as a demolition charge
Plastic explosives are soft, hand-mouldable explosives, also known as putty explosives or blastics
Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable explosives, also known as putty explosives or blastics. They are solid explosives that can be easily moulded into desired shapes. Plastic explosives are often used for explosive demolition of obstacles and fortifications by combat engineers. They are ideal for cutting structural members and have a high enough velocity of detonation and density for metal-cutting work.
The first plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875. During World War II, the British used a plastic explosive called Composition C, which was 88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-oily, non-explosive plasticizer. This was followed by Composition C2, which had a wider temperature range at which it remained plastic, and then Composition C3, which was more effective but too brittle in cold weather. The most common plastic explosive today is Composition C4 or C-4, which is composed of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical. C-4 has a texture similar to modelling clay and is relatively insensitive to most physical shocks. It can only be detonated by a shockwave, such as when a detonator inserted into it is fired.
Other common plastic explosives include Semtex, which is based on mixtures of RDX and PETN, and PE-4 (Plastic Explosive No. 4), a British plastic explosive also based on RDX. Plastic explosives are generally not used for ordinary blasting as they tend to be significantly more expensive than other materials that perform just as well. However, they have important commercial uses, such as shock-hardening high-manganese percentage steel, a material used for train rail components and earth-digging implements. They are also used in reactive tank armour, where the plastic explosive is sandwiched between two plates of steel.
Plastic BIC Razors: Allowed in Carry-On Luggage?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
C-4, a common plastic explosive, is insensitive to most physical shocks and can only be detonated by a shockwave
C-4, or Composition C-4, is a plastic explosive that is a common variety of the Composition C family of chemical explosives. It was first developed by the British during World War II and was redeveloped as Composition C when introduced to the U.S. military. C-4 is composed of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical. It has a texture similar to modelling clay and can be easily molded into any desired shape, making it highly versatile for various applications.
C-4 is known for its stability and insensitivity to most physical shocks. It is designed to be very difficult to accidentally detonate, and it cannot be detonated by a gunshot or by dropping it onto a hard surface. Additionally, C-4 does not explode when set on fire or exposed to microwaves. This stability is attributed to the large amount of binder used in its composition. Impact tests conducted by the U.S. military, known as "the rifle bullet test", demonstrated the insensitivity of C-4. In this test, only 20% of the vials containing C-4 burned, and none of them exploded.
Despite its insensitivity to physical shocks, C-4 is a powerful explosive that can be detonated by a shockwave. This shockwave is typically created by a detonator or blasting cap inserted into the C-4 and fired. When detonated, C-4 rapidly decomposes, releasing nitrogen, water, carbon oxides, and other gases at an explosive velocity of 8,092 m/s (26,550 ft/s). This detonation generates a shock wave that demolishes the target through cutting, breaching, or cratering.
C-4 has been used by both military and terrorist organizations worldwide. It has been employed in acts of terrorism, domestic terrorism, and state terrorism. While C-4 is a valuable explosive for its stability and versatility, it is essential to handle it with extreme caution. Burning C-4 produces poisonous fumes, and ingestion of C-4 can lead to severe health risks, including seizures, nausea, vomiting, and in some cases, death.
Plastic Shafts for Bowling Balls: Are They Reliable?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
C-4 is composed of explosives, a plastic binder, a plasticizer, and a marker or odorizing taggant chemical
Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable solid forms of explosive material. They are especially suited for explosive demolition and can be easily moulded into ideal shapes for cutting structural members. The first manufactured plastic explosive was gelignite, invented in 1875 by Alfred Nobel. During World War II, the British SOE extensively used a plastic explosive known as "plastique" for sabotage missions.
C-4, or Composition C-4, is a common variety of plastic explosive that uses RDX ("Research Department Explosive", an explosive nitroamine) as its explosive agent. It is composed of explosives, a plastic binder, a plasticizer to make it malleable, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical. C-4 has a texture similar to modelling clay and can be moulded into any desired shape. This makes it highly versatile for various applications, including explosive demolition, cutting through metal, and military operations.
The manufacturing process for C-4 involves mixing wet RDX and plastic binder in a stainless-steel kettle, a method called the aqueous slurry-coating process. The mixture is then dried on trays using forced air to eliminate excess moisture. The specific composition of C-4 can vary, with different proportions of RDX, plasticizer, and binder. For example, the C-4 used by the United States Armed Forces contains 91% RDX, 5.3% dioctyl sebacate (DOS) or dioctyl adipate (DOA) as the plasticizer, 2.1% polyisobutylene (PIB) as the binder, and 1.6% mineral oil ("process oil").
The presence of a large amount of binder in C-4 contributes to its relative insensitivity to physical shocks. C-4 cannot be detonated by a gunshot or by dropping it onto a hard surface. It requires a shockwave from a detonator or blasting cap to initiate an explosion. This stability makes C-4 safer to handle and transport compared to more sensitive explosives. The insensitivity of C-4 was demonstrated in the rifle bullet test, where only 20% of the vials containing C-4 burned, and none exploded.
Salicylic Acid: Safe Storage in Plastic Containers?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
C-4 is stable and can be easily moulded into any shape to change the direction of the resulting explosion
C-4 is a plastic explosive that is composed of explosives, a plastic binder, a plasticizer to make it malleable, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical. It has a texture similar to modelling clay and can be easily moulded into any desired shape. This moulding capability offers a significant advantage as it allows for precise direction control of the resulting explosion. For instance, C-4 can be pressed into gaps, cracks, holes, and voids in buildings, bridges, equipment, or machinery.
C-4 is a member of the Composition C family of chemical explosives, which includes variants such as C-2 and C-3. The original RDX-based material was developed by the British during World War II and later introduced to the U.S. military as Composition C. C-4 itself was first produced in 1956 and submitted for patent in 1958 by the Phillips Petroleum Company.
C-4 is known for its stability and insensitivity to most physical shocks. It cannot be detonated by a gunshot or by dropping it onto a hard surface. Additionally, it does not explode when set on fire or exposed to microwaves. Instead, C-4 requires a combination of extreme heat and a shockwave to detonate, typically initiated by a detonator.
The explosive material in C-4 is cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (C3H6N6O6), commonly known as RDX or "royal demolition explosive." The additive material includes polyisobutylene as the binder and di(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate as the plasticizer, which gives C-4 its malleable properties. C-4 also contains a small amount of motor oil and 2, 3-dimethyl-2, 3-dinitrobutane (DMDNB) as a chemical marker for security forces.
The Autoimmune-Nanoplastics Link: A Health Crisis?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The British used a plastic explosive, Composition C, during World War II as a demolition charge
Plastic explosives are solid explosive materials that are soft and hand-mouldable. They are also known as putty explosives or blastics. Plastic explosives are especially suited for explosive demolition. Common plastic explosives include Semtex and C-4.
Composition C was extensively used by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) at Aston House for sabotage missions during World War II. It was also used in the warhead of the Petard demolition mortar of the British Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) during Operation Overlord (D-Day).
Composition C was an RDX-based material developed by the British during World War II and later introduced to the U.S. military. It was replaced by Composition C2 around 1943 and then redeveloped around 1944 as Composition C3. Research on a replacement for C3 began prior to 1950, but the new material, C4, did not begin pilot production until 1956. C4 is a member of the Composition C family of chemical explosives and is known for its stability and insensitivity to most physical shocks. It can only be detonated by a shockwave, such as when a detonator inserted into it is fired.
Clay vs Plastic Pots: Which Absorbs More Water?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, plastic explosives are relatively insensitive and can only be detonated by a shockwave from a detonator or blasting cap.
Plastic explosives are composed of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer to make it malleable, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical.
Some common examples of plastic explosives include Semtex and C-4.
When C-4 explodes, it rapidly decomposes to release nitrogen, water, carbon oxides, and other gases.
