Sofia Martinez
Plastic explosives are a type of explosive material that can be moulded or shaped due to their plasticity at room temperature. They are formulated with one or more high explosives and a binder material. The first plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875, and later improved upon by British explosives chemist Oswald Silberrad, who obtained patents for a series of plastic explosives called Nitrols before World War I. During World War II, the British used Nobel's Explosive No. 808, also known as Nobel 808 or simply Explosive 808, which was packaged and labelled in French as Explosif Plastique, leading to the term plastique. Composition C, an explosive with 88.3% RDX and a plasticizer, was used by the British during World War II and later superseded by Composition C2, which had a wider temperature range for plasticity. The most common plastic explosive employed by the military in Vietnam was Composition C-4, which contains 90% RDX and 10% polyisobutylene.
| 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 vapour pressure of less than 10 Pa at a temperature of 25 °C, is formulated with a binder material, and is a mixture that is malleable or flexible at normal room temperature. |
| First plastic explosive | Gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875 |
| Pre-World War II plastic explosive | Nobel's Explosive No. 808, also known as Nobel 808 or Explosive 808 |
| Post-World War II developments | RDX-based explosives including Compositions C, C2, C3, and C4 |
| Composition C | 88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-oily, non-explosive plasticizer; effective between 0 and 40 °C but brittle at colder temperatures and gummy at higher temperatures |
| Composition C2 | 80% RDX and 20% plasticizer; effective between −30 and 52 °C |
| Composition C3 | 77% RDX and 23% explosive plasticizer; brittle in cold weather |
| Composition C4 | Contains 90% cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and 10% polyisobutylene; used by the military in Vietnam and has severe health effects if ingested |
| Commercial uses | Shock hardening high manganese percentage steel, reactive armour in tanks |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic explosives are defined as an explosive material in flexible or elastic sheet form
- They are formulated with one or more high explosives
- Their pure form has a vapour pressure of less than 10 Pa at 25 °C
- They are malleable or flexible at normal room temperature
- The first plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875
Plastic explosives are defined as an explosive material in flexible or elastic sheet form
The first plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875. Since then, various types of plastic explosives have been developed, including Compositions C, C2, C3, and C4. Composition C, for example, was composed of 88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-oily, non-explosive plasticizer, and was effective within a temperature range of 0 to 40 °C. However, it proved to be too brittle in cold weather and was replaced by Composition C2, which had a wider plastic temperature range of −30 to 52 °C.
Composition C4, or C-4, is the most common plastic explosive employed by the military and contains 90% cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and 10% polyisobutylene. It is known for its toxic effects when ingested, causing seizures, nausea, vomiting, and other serious symptoms. While plastic explosives are not typically used for ordinary blasting due to their high cost, they find commercial use in applications such as shock-hardening high-manganese percentage steel and in reactive tank armor.
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They are formulated with one or more high explosives
Plastic explosives are formulated with one or more high explosives, with a binder material, and are malleable or flexible at room temperature. They are defined as "an explosive material in flexible or elastic sheet form".
The first plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875. 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. It had the appearance of green plasticine and a distinctive almond smell. It was extensively used by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II for sabotage missions.
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. It was effective but proved to be too brittle in cold weather, so it was replaced by Composition C2, which used a mixture of 80% RDX and 20% plasticizer. Composition C2 had a wider temperature range at which it remained plastic, from −30 to 52 °C (−22 to 126 °F).
Composition C-4, also known as C4, is the most common plastic explosive employed by the military in Vietnam. It contains 90% cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and 10% polyisobutylene. It is a pure white block or sheet and has toxic effects if ingested, including seizures, nausea, vomiting, and muscle twitching.
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Their pure form has a vapour pressure of less than 10 Pa at 25 °C
Plastic explosives are a type of explosive material that can be moulded into sheets or other shapes due to their flexible or elastic form. They are formulated with one or more high explosives and a binder material, which gives them their malleable or flexible qualities at room temperature. The term "plastique" was first used to describe Nobel 808, a plastic explosive introduced to the US by the British in 1940. This explosive was extensively used by the British Special Operations Executive during World War II for sabotage missions.
One of the key characteristics of plastic explosives is that in their pure form, they have a vapour pressure of less than 10 Pa at 25 °C. This property is part of the definition of plastic explosives and helps distinguish them from other types of explosives. The low vapour pressure indicates that the explosive material has a low volatility, meaning it does not easily transition into a gaseous state at room temperature. This is an important safety feature, as it reduces the risk of accidental detonation due to vapour buildup.
The low vapour pressure of plastic explosives is a result of their chemical composition. These explosives typically contain a high percentage of powerful explosives like RDX (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine) and smaller amounts of plasticizers, which can be substances like polyisobutylene. The specific proportions of these components can vary, leading to different classes of plastic explosives, such as C4, which has three variations.
RDX is a key ingredient in many plastic explosives and is responsible for their detonation capabilities. However, it also poses significant health risks if ingested, including seizures, nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases, coma and renal injury. Due to these toxic effects, the handling and storage of plastic explosives require strict safety protocols to prevent accidental ingestion or exposure.
The flexibility, mouldability, and high explosive power of plastic explosives have led to their use in various military and commercial applications. In the military, plastic explosives like Composition C-4 have been commonly employed, especially in Vietnam. Commercially, plastic explosives are used for shock-hardening high-manganese percentage steel, which is used in train rail components and earth-digging implements. They are also used in reactive tank armour, where they help protect tanks from incoming anti-tank rounds.
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They are malleable or flexible at normal room temperature
Plastic explosives are so-called because they are malleable or flexible at normal room temperature. This is due to the incorporation of various plasticizers, which decrease sensitivity and make the composition plastic. The amount of plasticizer in the explosive determines the temperature range at which it remains plastic. For example, Composition C, which was 88.3% RDX and 11.7% non-oily, non-explosive plasticizer, was plastic between 0 and 40 °C (32–104 °F). Composition C2, which replaced Composition C, had a wider plastic temperature range of −30 to 52 °C (−22 to 126 °F) due to its mixture of 80% RDX and 20% plasticizer.
The flexibility of plastic explosives allows them to be easily moulded into various shapes, making them versatile and adaptable for different applications. This characteristic also enables them to be wrapped around objects or fitted into tight spaces, enhancing their utility in demolition and military contexts.
One of the earliest plastic explosives was Nobel's Explosive No. 808, also known as Nobel 808 or simply Explosive 808. It was extensively used by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II for sabotage missions. This explosive had the appearance of green plasticine and could be moulded into different shapes, highlighting the importance of flexibility in plastic explosives.
The flexibility of plastic explosives also contributes to their effectiveness in military and demolition applications. For instance, Composition C-4, the most common plastic explosive employed by the military in Vietnam, can be shaped to cut through solid steel. Additionally, plastic explosives are used in reactive armour in tanks, where they are sandwiched between two plates of steel. When an incoming high-explosive shaped charge anti-tank round pierces the outer steel plate, the plastic explosive detonates, disrupting the energy and shielding the tank.
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The first plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875
Plastic explosives are soft and hand-mouldable solid forms of explosive material. They are also known as putty explosives. The first plastic explosive was gelignite, invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875.
Nobel, born in Stockholm, Sweden, displayed an early aptitude for science and languages. He became fluent in six languages and filed his first patent at the age of 24. He was particularly interested in chemistry and became fascinated by nitroglycerin, an explosive synthesized by Ascanio Sobrero. Sobrero opposed the use of nitroglycerin due to its instability, but Nobel wanted to find a way to control and use it as a commercially usable explosive. In 1867, he patented dynamite, an explosive made using nitroglycerin.
Nobel's invention of gelignite came about as a result of his continued experimentation with nitroglycerin. He combined it with various nitrocellulose compounds, obtaining a transparent, jelly-like substance that was more powerful than dynamite. Gelignite, also known as blasting gelatin, was patented in 1876 and was followed by a host of similar combinations. It was more stable, powerful, transportable, and conveniently formed to fit into bored holes, making it ideal for drilling and mining. Gelignite was adopted as the standard technology for mining in the "Age of Engineering", bringing Nobel significant financial success.
Gelignite, or Nobel's Explosive No. 808, was extensively used during World War II by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) for sabotage missions. It had the appearance of green plasticine and a distinctive almond smell. It was also used in the HESH anti-tank shells and was a key component in the development of the Gammon grenade.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic explosives are explosive materials in flexible or elastic sheet form. They are formulated with one or more high explosives and are malleable or flexible at normal room temperature.
Some plastic explosives include Composition C, Composition C2, Composition C3, and Composition C4 (C-4).
Composition C4 is made of 90% cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and 10% polyisobutylene.
Ingesting plastic explosives can cause seizures, nausea, vomiting, muscle twitching, and mentation changes.
The term "plastic" in plastic explosives refers to the material being malleable or flexible at room temperature.
