Maya Ellison
Plastic explosives, such as Semtex and C4, are commonly used explosive mixtures. A plasticizer is a substance that is added to a material to make it softer and more flexible, to increase its plasticity, to decrease its viscosity, and/or to decrease friction during its handling in manufacture. The addition of a plasticizer lowers the sensitivity of the explosive and improves its processibility. Plasticizers are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC, giving this material improved flexibility and durability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A plasticizer is a substance that is added to a material to make it softer and more flexible, to increase its plasticity, to decrease its viscosity, and/or to decrease friction during its handling in manufacture. |
| Materials | Plasticizers are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC, clays, stucco, solid rocket fuel, and other pastes prior to molding and forming. |
| Function | Plasticizers are added to materials to facilitate the handling of the raw material during fabrication or to meet the demands of the end product's application. |
| Plastic Explosives | Common plastic explosives include Semtex, C-4, and Nobel 808. |
| Plastic Explosives Composition | Plastic explosives are composed of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer, and sometimes a marker or odorizing taggant chemical. |
| Plasticizer Percentage in Plastic Explosives | The percentage of plasticizer in plastic explosives varies, but it is typically between 5-10%. For example, C-4 contains about 90% RDX, 5–6% plasticizer, 2% polyisobutylene binder, and 1.5% fuel oil. |
| Plasticizer Types | Common plasticizers include diesters such as dioctyl adipate, dioctyl phthalate, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). |
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What You'll Learn
- Plasticizers are added to explosives to make them softer and more flexible
- They decrease the sensitivity of explosives and improve processibility
- Plasticizers are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC
- Common plasticizers include diesters such as dioctyl adipate or dioctyl phthalate
- Plasticizers are key to the usability of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Plasticizers are added to explosives to make them softer and more flexible
Plasticizers are substances added to a material to increase its plasticity, decrease its viscosity, and/or decrease friction during its handling in manufacture. They are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC, to facilitate the handling of the raw material during fabrication, or to meet the demands of the end product's application. In the absence of plasticizers, PVC is hard and brittle; with plasticizers, it is suitable for products such as vinyl siding, roofing, vinyl flooring, and electric wire insulation.
The addition of a plasticizer to an explosive lowers the sensitivity of the explosive and improves its processibility. Explosive yields can be affected by the introduction of mechanical loads or the application of temperature; such damages are called insults. The mechanism of a thermal insult at low temperatures on an explosive is primarily thermomechanical, while at higher temperatures it is primarily thermochemical. Thermomechanical mechanisms involve stresses by thermal expansion, melting/freezing, or sublimation/condensation of components.
Polymer-bonded explosives (PBX) are explosive materials in which explosive powder is bound together in a matrix using small quantities (typically 5-10% by weight) of a synthetic polymer. The polymer matrix can be an elastomer (rubbery material), which tends to absorb shocks, making the PBX very insensitive to accidental detonation, and thus ideal for insensitive munitions. The elasticity of the matrix lowers the sensitivity of the bulk material to shock and friction.
Plasticizers used in PVC and other plastics are often based on esters of polycarboxylic acids with linear or branched aliphatic alcohols of moderate chain length. These compounds are selected based on criteria including low toxicity, compatibility with the host material, non-volatility, and expense. Phthalate esters of straight-chain and branched-chain alkyl alcohols meet these specifications and are common plasticizers.
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They decrease the sensitivity of explosives and improve processibility
Plasticizers are substances added to materials to increase their plasticity, decrease their viscosity, and/or decrease friction during handling in manufacturing. They are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC to make them softer and more flexible.
In the context of explosives, plasticizers are added to explosive mixtures to decrease their sensitivity and make them more plastic and mouldable. For example, the plastic explosive Composition C, used during World War II, was composed of 88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-oily, non-explosive plasticizer. This allowed the explosive to be easily moulded into ideal shapes for demolition charges.
The addition of a plasticizer to an explosive mixture lowers its sensitivity to mechanical shocks and accidental detonation. This is especially important for mechanically sensitive explosives like HMX, where the elasticity of the matrix lowers the bulk material's sensitivity to shock and friction. The glass transition temperature of the mixture is also lowered, improving its flexibility and durability.
Plasticizers can also improve the processibility of explosives, making them more workable for specific applications. For instance, plastic explosives like Semtex and C-4, commonly used by terrorists, contain plasticizers that make them soft and hand-mouldable. This allows them to be easily formed into the desired shapes for cutting structural members and metal-cutting work.
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Plasticizers are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC
A plasticizer is a substance that is added to a material to make it softer and more flexible, to increase its plasticity, to decrease its viscosity, and/or to decrease friction during its handling in manufacture. They are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC, to improve their flexibility and durability, and to facilitate the handling of the raw material during fabrication.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the third most widely used plastic. Without plasticizers, PVC is hard and brittle. Plasticizers make PVC suitable for a wide range of applications, including vinyl siding, roofing, vinyl flooring, rain gutters, plumbing, and electric wire insulation/coating. Plasticizers are also added to concrete formulations to make them more workable and fluid for pouring, thus allowing water contents to be reduced.
Plasticizers used in PVC and other plastics are often based on esters of polycarboxylic acids with linear or branched aliphatic alcohols of moderate chain length. These compounds are selected on the basis of many criteria, including low toxicity, compatibility with the host material, nonvolatility, and expense. Phthalate esters of straight-chain and branched-chain alkyl alcohols meet these specifications and are common plasticizers. Ortho-phthalate esters have traditionally been the most dominant plasticizers, but regulatory concerns have led to a move away from classified substances to non-classified alternatives, especially in Europe.
The most common plasticizer for PVC is DEHP (diethylhexyl phthalate), a low molecular weight ortho-phthalate. DINP and DIDP are high molecular weight ortho-phthalates that are also used as PVC plasticizers. Other plasticizers for PVC include DOP (diethylhexyl phthalate), DINP (diisononyl phthalate), DIDP (diisodecyl phthalate), and DPHP (bis(2-propylheptyl) phthalate). These plasticizers are used in a variety of applications, including flooring materials, medical devices, consumer products, cables, wires, roofing materials, and insulation for wires and cables.
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Common plasticizers include diesters such as dioctyl adipate or dioctyl phthalate
Plasticizers are substances added to materials to increase their plasticity, decrease their viscosity, and/or decrease friction during handling in manufacture. They are commonly added to polymers and plastics such as PVC, to improve their flexibility and durability. Plasticizers are especially key to the usability of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the third most widely used plastic. In the absence of plasticizers, PVC is hard and brittle; with plasticizers, it is suitable for products such as vinyl siding, roofing, vinyl flooring, and electric wire insulation.
Plasticizers for polymers are either liquids with low volatility or solids. The molecules of plasticizer take control of the mobility of the polymer chain. The effect of plasticizers on elastic modulus depends on both temperature and plasticizer concentration. Below a certain concentration, referred to as the crossover concentration, a plasticizer can decrease the modulus of a material. The material's glass transition temperature will decrease, however, at all concentrations.
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA, dioctyl adipate plasticizer) provides excellent compatibility with a range of plastic materials and synthetic rubbers, superior properties at low temperatures, and good oil resistivity. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), commonly known as dioctyl phthalate, was historically used in flooring materials, medical devices, consumer products, and high explosives such as Semtex. DEHP was the most common plasticizer for decades and still holds that title globally, even as it has largely been replaced with higher molecular weight phthalates and alternatives in the US and Europe.
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Plasticizers are key to the usability of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Plasticizers are substances that are added to materials to make them softer and more flexible, to increase their plasticity, to decrease their viscosity, and/or to decrease friction during their handling in manufacture. They are commonly added to polymers and plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), to improve their flexibility and durability. PVC is the third most widely used plastic and is used across almost every industry.
In the absence of plasticizers, PVC is hard and brittle. With plasticizers, it becomes suitable for a wide range of applications. For example, plasticized PVC is used to produce thin, coloured, or clear, adhesive-backed films, known simply as "vinyl". These films are used to produce a wide variety of commercial signage products, vinyl wraps or racing stripes on vehicles, and general-purpose stickers.
PVC fabric is also water-resistant and used for its weather-resistant qualities in coats, skiing equipment, shoes, jackets, and aprons. In addition, plasticizers are often added to concrete formulations to make them more workable and fluid for pouring, thus allowing the water contents to be reduced.
Plasticizers used in PVC and other plastics are often based on esters of polycarboxylic acids with linear or branched aliphatic alcohols of moderate chain length. These compounds are selected on the basis of many criteria, including low toxicity, compatibility with the host material, nonvolatility, and expense. Phthalate esters of straight-chain and branched-chain alkyl alcohols meet these specifications and are common plasticizers. Ortho-phthalate esters have traditionally been the most dominant plasticizers, but regulatory concerns have led to a move away from classified substances to non-classified alternatives, especially in Europe.
Plasticizers are also key components of plastic explosives such as Semtex and C4. They decrease sensitivity and make the composition plastic. The detection and differentiation of plasticizers within these mixtures can provide information for anti-terrorism and combat activities.
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Frequently asked questions
A plasticizer is a substance added to a material to make it softer and more flexible.
Plasticizers are added to explosives to lower their sensitivity and improve their processibility.
Common plasticizers used in explosives include diesters such as dioctyl adipate and dioctyl phthalate. Historically, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was also used in high explosives like Semtex.
Plastic explosives are a type of soft and hand-mouldable solid explosive material. They are commonly used in military and civilian applications for explosive demolition and combat engineering.
Some common examples of plastic explosives include Semtex, C-4, and Composition C.
