Maya Ellison
Plastic explosives are a soft and hand-mouldable form of explosive material. They are often used in military and civilian applications and are highly stable and resistant to accidental detonation. The first plastic explosive, gelignite, was invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875. This paragraph will explore the history of plastic explosives and the year of their invention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year plastic explosive was invented | 1875 |
| Inventor | Alfred Nobel |
| Name of the first plastic explosive | Gelignite |
| Common plastic explosives | Semtex, C-4, Composition C, Composition C2, Composition C3 |
| Plastic explosives are also known as | Putty explosives |
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What You'll Learn
- The first plastic explosive, gelignite, was invented in 1875
- C-4 is a common plastic explosive used by military and terrorist organisations
- Plastic explosives are often used for explosive demolition of obstacles and fortifications
- British and US patents for plastic explosives were obtained before World War I
- Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable
The first plastic explosive, gelignite, was invented in 1875
An early use of gelignite was in the warhead of the Petard demolition mortar of the British Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE). This was used to destroy concrete fortifications encountered during Operation Overlord (D-Day). Gelignite was also used for sabotage by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II.
Other common plastic explosives include Semtex and C-4, which are widely used by military and terrorist organisations. C-4 is composed of 90% cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and 10% polyisobutylene. It has a reputation for producing a "buzz" as well as a bang. 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 plasticiser (8-9%).
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C-4 is a common plastic explosive used by military and terrorist organisations
The first plastic explosive, gelignite, was invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875. C-4 (Composition C-4) is a plastic explosive that was first produced in 1956 and submitted for patent in 1958 by the Phillips Petroleum Company. It is a member of the Composition C family of chemical explosives, which includes C-2 and C-3. C-4 is a powerful explosive used by both military and terrorist organisations.
C-4 is composed of 91% RDX ("Research Department Explosive", an explosive nitroamine) and 9% plastic binder. The plastic binder gives C-4 its malleable properties, allowing it to be easily moulded into any desired shape. This makes it ideal for military demolition purposes, such as packing into cracks and crevices to blow up heavy walls or cutting through metal. Military-grade C-4 is commonly packaged as the M112 demolition block, which can be further assembled into the M183 "demolition charge assembly". The M183 is used for breaching large structures or obstacles where larger charges are required.
C-4 is a preferred explosive for terrorist organisations due to its stability, destructive power, and ease of smuggling. It has been used in numerous terrorist attacks worldwide, including the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers by Saudi Hezbollah terrorists and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole by al-Qaeda, which killed 17 sailors. C-4 has also been used by domestic terrorist groups, such as in the 1985 bombing of the MOVE organisation's home by the Philadelphia Police Department, which resulted in the deaths of eleven people, including five children, and the destruction of 61 homes.
While C-4 is a valuable tool for military demolition and breaching operations, it also poses risks to soldiers. Burning C-4 produces poisonous fumes, and ingestion of C-4 can lead to severe health issues, including seizures, vomiting, and, in some cases, death. Soldiers have also been known to intentionally ingest small amounts of C-4 to induce a "high" or temporary illness, as was observed during the Vietnam War.
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Plastic explosives are often used for explosive demolition of obstacles and fortifications
Plastic explosives were first invented in 1875 by Alfred Nobel, who created gelignite. They are soft and hand-mouldable solid forms of explosive material, also known as putty explosives. Common types include Semtex and C-4, which are used by both military and terrorist organisations.
Plastic explosives are often used for explosive demolition, particularly of obstacles and fortifications. They are especially suited to this purpose as they can be easily formed into ideal shapes for cutting structural members. They also have a high enough velocity of detonation and density for metal-cutting work.
An early use of plastic explosives was in the warhead of the Petard demolition mortar of the British Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) during Operation Overlord (D-Day). This was used to destroy concrete fortifications. Another early use was for the sabotage of German installations and railways in Occupied Europe during World War II.
During and after World War II, a number of new RDX-based explosives were developed, including Composition C, which was composed of 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 a mixture of 77% RDX and 23% explosive plasticizer. C3 was replaced by C4, which is still in use today.
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British and US patents for plastic explosives were obtained before World War I
The first manufactured plastic explosive, gelignite, was invented in 1875 by Alfred Nobel. However, British and US patents for plastic explosives were obtained before World War I by the British explosives chemist Oswald Silberrad. Silberrad obtained these patents for a series of plastic explosives called "Nitrols", composed of nitrated aromatics, collodion, and oxidising inorganic salts.
The language used in the patents indicates that Silberrad did not explain the meaning of plasticity or its advantages. Instead, he focused on explaining why his plastic explosives were superior to others of that type. Silberrad's Nitrols were composed of nitrated aromatics, collodion, and oxidising inorganic salts. One of the simplest plastic explosives was Nobel's Explosive No. 808, also known as Nobel 808 or just Explosive 808 in the British Armed Forces during World War II. This explosive was developed by the British company Nobel Chemicals Ltd well before World War II.
Nobel 808 was extensively used by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II for sabotage missions. It was also used in HESH anti-tank shells and was essential in devising the Gammon grenade. The explosive was also used in the failed 20 July plot assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler in 1944.
During and after World War II, several new RDX-based explosives were developed, including Compositions C, C2, and C3. These explosives incorporated various plasticizers to decrease sensitivity and make the composition plastic. The term "plastique" dates back to the Nobel 808 explosive, which was introduced to the US by the British in 1940. Composition C, for example, was composed of 88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-oily, non-explosive plasticizer.
The development of plastic explosives represented a significant advancement in explosive technology, offering enhanced mouldability and versatility compared to traditional explosives.
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Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable
The first manufactured plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875. Before World War I, British explosives chemist Oswald Silberrad obtained patents for a series of plastic explosives called "Nitrols", composed of nitrated aromatics, collodion, and oxidizing inorganic salts.
Common plastic explosives include Semtex and C-4. C-4 contains about 90% RDX, 5-6% plasticizer, 2% polyisobutylene binder, and 1.5% fuel oil. Semtex, on the other hand, contains 50-75% PETN, 5-40% RDX, 9% styrene-butadiene polymer, and 8-9% plasticizer. These plasticizers are diesters such as dioctyl adipate or dioctyl phthalate.
Plastic explosives are well-suited for explosive demolition as they can be easily moulded into shapes ideal for cutting structural members. They have a high enough velocity of detonation and density for metal-cutting work. During World War II, the British used Composition C, which was 88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-oily, non-explosive plasticizer. This composition was plastic between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius but became brittle at colder temperatures and gummy at higher temperatures.
Due to their mouldable nature, plastic explosives have been used for various purposes, including sabotage missions, demolition charges, and in the warhead of the Petard demolition mortar used by the British Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers during Operation Overlord (D-Day).
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Frequently asked questions
The first manufactured plastic explosive, gelignite, was invented in 1875 by Alfred Nobel.
Plastic explosive is a soft and hand-mouldable solid form of explosive material. It is often used for explosive demolition and can be easily formed into ideal shapes for cutting structural members.
Common plastic explosives include Semtex, C-4, and Nobel's Explosive No. 808, also known as Nobel 808.
The first plastic explosive, gelignite, was invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875. Prior to World War I, Oswald Silberrad also obtained patents for a series of plastic explosives called "Nitrols".
