Omar Khalid
Plastic explosives are a soft and hand-mouldable form of explosive material, also known as putty explosives. They are often made from PETN and RDX and are commonly used in military and civilian applications. The term plastic explosive refers to the malleable or flexible nature of the explosive, which can be easily shaped and adapted to various purposes. Plastic explosives were first invented in 1875 by Alfred Nobel, who created gelignite, the first plastic explosive. Since then, various formulations have been developed, including Composition C, C2, C3, and C4, as well as explosives such as Semtex. These explosives have been used in military applications, demolition, and construction, as well as by terrorists.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | An explosive material in flexible or elastic sheet form formulated with one or more high explosives. |
| Vapor Pressure | Less than 10 Pa at 25 °C |
| Form | Soft and hand-moldable solid |
| Common Types | Semtex, C-4, Nobel 808, Composition C, Composition C2, Composition C3 |
| Composition | RDX, PETN, plasticizers, nitrate esters, nitramines, fuel oil, styrene-butadience polymer |
| Uses | Military, civilian, commercial, demolition, construction, mining, munition propellants, shock hardening steel, reactive tank armour |
| Toxicity | Ingestion of C-4 can cause seizures, nausea, vomiting, muscle twitching, coma, and more |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable
The first plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875. This was followed by a series of plastic explosives called "Nitrols", composed of nitrated aromatics, collodion, and oxidising inorganic salts, by British explosives chemist Oswald Silberrad prior to World War I. One of the simplest plastic explosives was Nobel's Explosive No. 808, also known as Nobel 808, developed by the British company Nobel Chemicals Ltd before World War II. It had the appearance of green plasticine and was extensively used by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the war for sabotage missions.
During and after World War II, a number of new RDX-based explosives were developed, including Compositions C, C2, and C3. Composition C was composed of 88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-oily, non-explosive plasticizer. It was plastic between 0 and 40 °C (32–104 °F) but was brittle at colder temperatures and gummy at higher temperatures. Composition C was replaced by Composition C2, which had a wider plastic temperature range of −30 to 52 °C (−22 to 126 °F).
The most common current plastic explosives are C-4 and Semtex. C-4 contains about 90% RDX, 5–6% plasticizer, 2% polyisobutylene binder, and 1.5% fuel oil. It is highly toxic and ingestion can lead to multiple generalized seizures, severe nausea and vomiting, muscle twitching, and mentation changes. Semtex contains a mixture of 50–75% PETN, 5–40% RDX, 9% styrene–butadiene polymer, and 8–9% plasticizer. Both C-4 and Semtex have been commonly used by terrorists.
Satin-Finishing Your Plastic Chrome Grill: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
They are often made from PETN and RDX
Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable solid forms of explosive material. They are often made from PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) and RDX (1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine).
PETN is a secondary explosive, meaning it is more difficult to detonate than primary explosives. For example, dropping or igniting it will typically not cause an explosion. It is more sensitive to shock and friction than other secondary explosives such as TNT. PETN is a major ingredient in the plastic explosive Semtex and is used in C4. It is also used in land mines, shells, and detonation cords.
RDX is thermally stable and has a long shelf life. It was used in the British Armed Forces during World War II as Nobel 808, or Explosive 808, which had the appearance of green plasticine. It has also been used in Composition C, C2, and C3, which are plastic explosives with varying amounts of RDX and plasticizers.
The detection of PETN and RDX remains difficult due to their low volatility and weak electron-withdrawing ability. However, a fluorescence spot sensor has been developed to detect trace amounts of these explosives.
Best Ways to Dry a Plastic Tube
You may want to see also
Explore related products
They are used in military and civilian applications
Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable solid explosives, also known as putty explosives. They are formulated with one or more high explosives and a binder material, remaining malleable or flexible at room temperature. They are used in both military and civilian applications, with different compositions and strengths suited to specific purposes.
In military applications, plastic explosives are used for explosive demolition, and in the warheads of mortars. For instance, the British Armed Forces used Nobel's Explosive No. 808, or 'Explosive 808', during World War II for sabotage missions. Composition C-4, or simply C-4, is another plastic explosive commonly used by the military, especially in Vietnam. It contains about 90% RDX, 5-6% plasticizer, 2% polyisobutylene binder, and 1.5% fuel oil. Ingesting C-4 causes a 'high' similar to ethanol, and can lead to seizures, nausea, vomiting, and even coma.
Plastic explosives are also used in civilian applications, such as in the construction, demolition, and mining industries. For instance, plastic explosives are used for shock-hardening high manganese percentage steel, which is used for train rail components and earth-digging implements. Reactive armour in tanks also uses plastic explosives sandwiched between two plates of steel. When an incoming anti-tank round pierces the outer steel plate, the plastic explosive detonates and disrupts the energy, shielding the tank.
Common plastic explosives used in civilian applications include Semtex and C-4. Semtex is manufactured by the Czech company Explosia and contains a mixture of PETN (50-75%), RDX (5-40%), a styrene-butadiene polymer (9%), and a plasticizer (8-9%). It has, unfortunately, become notorious as an explosive used by terrorists.
Removing Brake Handle Clamp: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
They are highly stable and resistant to accidental detonation
Plastic explosives are a type of soft and hand-mouldable solid explosive material. They are often made from PETN and RDX and are difficult to detect by gas analytical methods due to their low vapour pressure. The first plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875.
Plastic explosives are highly stable and resistant to accidental detonation. They are used in both military and civilian applications. The most common plastic explosive is C-4, which contains about 90% RDX, 5-6% plasticizer, 2% polyisobutylene binder, and 1.5% fuel oil. Another widely used plastic explosive is Semtex, which is manufactured by the Czech company Explosia. It contains a mixture of PETN (50-75%), RDX (5-40%), a styrene-butadiene polymer (9%), and a plasticizer (8-9%).
The stability of plastic explosives is due in part to the use of plasticizers, which decrease sensitivity and make the composition more malleable. For example, Composition C, a plastic explosive used during World War II, was 88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-oily, non-explosive plasticizer. This composition remained plastic between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius but became brittle at colder temperatures and gummy at higher temperatures.
The resistance to accidental detonation is an important safety feature of plastic explosives, especially given their use in both military and civilian contexts. However, it is important to note that the ingestion of plastic explosives like C-4 can have severe toxic effects, including seizures, nausea, vomiting, and in some cases, coma and renal injury.
The Pacific Plastic Patch: Fact or Fiction?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
They are commonly used in shock hardening and reactive tank armour
Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable solid explosives. They are commonly used in shock hardening and reactive tank armour.
Shock hardening is a commercial use of plastic explosives, specifically for hardening high manganese percentage steel. This type of steel is used for train rail components and earth digging implements.
Reactive armour in tanks uses plastic explosives sandwiched between two plates of steel. When an incoming high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) round pierces the first steel plate, it detonates the plastic explosive, disrupting the energy from the incoming round and protecting the tank and its crew. This type of armour is called explosive reactive armour (ERA). ERA is extremely effective against HEAT and HESH rounds and can also protect the vehicle from APFSDS rounds to an extent. ERA is also immune to detonation by small arms fire.
However, ERA poses a significant threat to infantry operating near the tank, as the upper plate of the ERA can break into lethal fragments when it explodes. ERA is also insensitive to impact by kinetic projectiles up to 30mm in calibre.
Other types of reactive armour include self-limiting explosive reactive armour (SLERA), non-energetic reactive armour (NERA), non-explosive reactive armour (NxRA), and electric armour. NERA and NxRA modules can withstand multiple hits, unlike ERA and SLERA.
Plastic vs Metal Speculums: Which is Better?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Plastic explosive refers to a type of soft and hand-mouldable solid explosive material.
Plastic explosives are often used for explosive demolition and in military and civilian applications. They are also used in the construction, demolition and mining industries.
Plastic explosives are made from nitrate esters or nitramines as the main explosive. They often contain PETN and RDX and are difficult to detect by gas analytical methods due to their low vapour pressure.
Common plastic explosives include Semtex, C-4 (Composition C), Nobel 808, and Nitrols.
