Sofia Martinez
Plastic explosives are solid explosive materials that can be hand-moulded into ideal shapes for cutting through metal. They are used for military purposes, such as shock-hardening high-manganese percentage steel and in reactive armour in tanks. They are also used in commercial settings. Plastic explosives are extremely dangerous and have been used in numerous terrorist attacks, including the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. The manufacture, import, transfer, receipt, or possession of unmarked plastic explosives is a crime in many countries, including the US and Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a plastic explosive? | An explosive material in flexible or elastic sheet form formulated with one or more high explosives. |
| What is a detection agent? | Any one of the following substances introduced into a plastic explosive to achieve homogeneous distribution: Ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN), 2,3-Dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB), Para-Mononitrotoluene (p-MNT), Ortho-Mononitrotoluene (o-MNT). |
| What does the Antiterrorism Act of 1996 state? | It is unlawful to manufacture, import, transfer, receive, or possess any plastic explosive that does not contain a detection agent. |
| Who does the Act apply to? | Any person or entity, including individuals, corporations, and government agencies, as defined by the relevant legislation. |
| Are there any exceptions? | Yes, the Act provides a 15-year "use-up" period for the military and federal law enforcement agencies, and there are specific exemptions for research, development, testing, and training purposes. |
| What are the penalties? | The use of plastic explosives without a detection agent is a criminal offense that endangers national security and gravely affects interstate and foreign commerce. |
| What are some examples of plastic explosives? | Common plastic explosives include Semtex, C-4, and Composition C, C2, and C3. |
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What You'll Learn
Manufacturing plastic explosives is a crime in the US
Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable solid forms of explosive material. They are especially suited for explosive demolition and are commonly used for shock hardening high-manganese percentage steel and in reactive armour in tanks. The first manufactured plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875.
The manufacture, import, transfer, receipt, or possession of unmarked plastic explosives was made unlawful in the US by the Antiterrorism Act of 1996. This was in response to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, both of which involved plastic explosives. The Act defines a "plastic explosive" as:
> [A]n explosive material in flexible or elastic sheet form formulated with one or more high explosives which in their pure form has a vapor pressure less than 10−4 Pa at a temperature of 25°C, is formulated with a binder material, and is as a mixture malleable or flexible at normal room temperature.
The Act also defines a "detection agent" as:
> [A]ny one of the substances specified in this subsection when introduced into a plastic explosive or formulated in such explosive as part of the manufacturing process in such a manner as to achieve homogeneous distribution in the finished explosive.
Examples of detection agents include ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN) and 2,3-Dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB). These agents are designed to render the explosives detectable by vapor-detection equipment or canines.
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Importing or exporting plastic explosives is illegal
Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable solid forms of explosive material. They are especially suited for explosive demolition and are often used in reactive armour in tanks. Plastic explosives can be extremely dangerous, and their criminal use has been known to endanger lives and national security.
In recognition of the dangers of plastic explosives, the Antiterrorism Act of 1996 in the United States made it unlawful to manufacture, import, transfer, receive, ship, transport, or possess any plastic explosive that does not contain a detection agent. Detection agents are designed to render the explosives detectable by vapour-detection equipment or canines. The Act provided a 15-year "use-up" period for the military and federal law enforcement agencies, beginning on June 21, 1998, and ending on June 21, 2013.
Similarly, Australian law requires compliance with regulations when dealing with plastic explosives. In general, importing or exporting plastic explosives is illegal in many jurisdictions, and it is essential to adhere to the laws and regulations of the specific country or region.
It is worth noting that the term "plastic explosives" refers to an explosive material in a flexible or elastic sheet form. It is formulated with one or more high explosives and has specific characteristics, such as a low vapor pressure and malleability at room temperature.
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Shipping, transporting, transferring, receiving or possessing plastic explosives is unlawful
Plastic explosives are a soft and hand-mouldable solid form of explosive material. They are especially suited for explosive demolition and are often used in reactive armour in tanks. Due to their potential for criminal use, the Antiterrorism Act of 1996 made it unlawful to manufacture, import, transfer, receive, or possess any plastic explosive that does not contain a detection agent in the United States. Similar regulations are in place in Australia.
These detection agents are designed to render the explosives detectable by vapour-detection equipment or canines. The specific substances that can be used as detection agents include:
- Ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN) with a minimum concentration of 0.2% by mass
- 2,3-Dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB) with a minimum concentration of 0.1% by mass
- Para-Mononitrotoluene (p-MNT) with a minimum concentration of 0.5% by mass
- Ortho-Mononitrotoluene (o-MNT) with a minimum concentration of 0.5% by mass
The Act provides for certain exceptions to the marking requirement, such as when the plastic explosive is intended for lawful research, development, testing, or training purposes. Additionally, there was a 15-year "use-up" period for the military and federal law enforcement agencies to use, destroy, or mark any stocks of unmarked plastic explosives in their possession.
It is important to note that the regulations regarding plastic explosives may vary by country and jurisdiction. Individuals dealing with plastic explosives must comply with the relevant laws and regulations in their respective locations.
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Detection agents are required in plastic explosives
The manufacture, import, transfer, receipt, or possession of plastic explosives is unlawful in many countries, including the United States and Australia. Specifically, the Antiterrorism Act of 1996 in the US made it illegal for any person to manufacture, import, transfer, receive, or possess any plastic explosive that does not contain a detection agent. Detection agents are chemical additives that render the explosives detectable by vapor-detection equipment or dogs.
The background to this decision is the more than 27,000 bombing and attempted bombings in the United States between 1979 and 2005, including the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
The Act provided a 15-year "use-up" period for the military and federal law enforcement agencies, beginning on June 21, 1998, and ending on June 21, 2013. During this period, agencies were required to use, destroy, or mark any stocks of unmarked plastic explosives in their possession. The regulations implementing the Act are found at 27 CFR 555.180–555.186.
There are, however, certain exceptions to the marking requirement. For example, the regulation at 27 CFR 555.182 states that it is an "affirmative defense" if the proponent proves by a preponderance of evidence that the plastic explosive consists of a small amount intended for and used solely in lawful research, development and testing of new explosives, or training in explosives detection.
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Plastic explosives are used for commercial purposes
Plastic explosives are highly regulated in many countries, including the United States and Australia, due to their potential for misuse in terrorist activities and bombing incidents. In the United States, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 made it unlawful to manufacture, import, transfer, receive, or possess plastic explosives without a detection agent. Similar regulations are in place in Australia, where compliance with the law is mandatory when dealing with plastic explosives.
Despite these strict controls, plastic explosives do have legitimate commercial applications. One common use is for shock-hardening high-manganese percentage steel, which is used in the manufacturing of train rail components and earth-digging implements. Additionally, plastic explosives are employed in the creation of reactive armor for tanks. In this application, the explosive is sandwiched between two plates of steel. If the outer steel plate is pierced by an incoming high-explosive shaped charge anti-tank round, the plastic explosive detonates, providing protection to the tank and its occupants.
The military and law enforcement agencies are major users of plastic explosives for various purposes, including demolition charges, grenades, and anti-tank shells. For instance, during World War II, the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) extensively used plastic explosives for sabotage missions against German installations and railways in Occupied Europe. The specific composition of these explosives, known as Composition C, consisted of 88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-oily, non-explosive plasticizer. This composition was later superseded by Composition C2 and C3, which offered improved plasticity over a wider temperature range.
While plastic explosives are regulated to prevent their misuse, there are exceptions to the marking requirements. Small amounts of plastic explosives intended solely for lawful research, development, and testing of explosives, as well as for training in explosives detection or development of detection equipment, are exempt from certain regulations. These exemptions highlight the recognition of legitimate commercial and military purposes for plastic explosives, provided they are utilized within the boundaries of the law and appropriate safety measures.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, according to the Antiterrorism Act of 1996, it is unlawful for any person to manufacture plastic explosives without a "detection agent".
Detection agents are substances added to plastic explosives to render them detectable by vapour-detection equipment or canines. Examples include Ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN) and 2,3-Dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB).
Plastic explosives are used for explosive demolition of obstacles and fortifications. They are also used in reactive armour in tanks, where they are sandwiched between two plates of steel to disrupt the energy from incoming rounds and shield the tank.
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