Alexei Volkov
C-4, or Composition C-4, is a plastic explosive that is composed of explosives, a plastic binder, a plasticizer to make it malleable, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical. It is very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks, and can only be detonated by a shockwave, such as when a detonator inserted into it is fired. C-4 has a texture similar to modelling clay and can be easily molded into any desired shape to change the direction of the resulting explosion. It is used by both military and terrorist organizations and is commonly packaged as the M112 demolition block.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composition | 91% RDX, 5.3% dioctyl sebacate (DOS) or dioctyl adipate (DOA), 2.1% polyisobutylene, 1.6% mineral oil |
| Texture | Similar to modelling clay |
| Stability | Very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks |
| Detonation | Only possible via shockwave from a detonator or blasting cap |
| Velocity of detonation | 8,092 m/s (26,550 ft/s) |
| Cutting ability | Can completely sever a 36-cm deep I-beam with 680-910 g of C-4 |
| Toxicity | Ingestion can lead to seizures, nausea, vomiting, muscle twitching, and mentation changes |
| Variants | C-2, C-3, C-4, PE-4, PE-7 |
| Manufacturing process | Aqueous slurry-coating process |
| Applications | Military, civilian, and terrorist |
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What You'll Learn
- C-4's composition includes RDX, plastic binder, plasticizer, and a marker or odorizing taggant chemical
- C-4 is very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks
- C-4 is used by both military and terrorist organizations
- C-4 is soft and hand-mouldable, making it suitable for explosive demolition
- C-4 ingestion causes seizures, nausea, vomiting, and muscle twitching
C-4's composition includes RDX, plastic binder, plasticizer, and a marker or odorizing taggant chemical
C-4, or Composition C-4, is a plastic explosive that uses RDX ("Research Department Explosive") as its explosive agent. RDX is a nitroamine that is soft and mouldable, and can be formed into any desired shape. This is an advantage for certain applications, such as cutting through metal or demolition.
C-4's composition includes RDX, a plastic binder, a plasticizer, and a marker or odorizing taggant chemical. The plastic binder used is polyisobutylene (PIB), a synthetic rubber that makes up 2.1% of the mixture. The plasticizer, which gives the explosive its malleable properties, is typically dioctyl sebacate (DOS) or dioctyl adipate (DOA), and accounts for 5.3% of the mixture. A mineral oil, sometimes called "process oil", is added, making up 1.6% of the mixture. For civilian use, low-viscosity motor oil is used instead of mineral oil.
The proportions of these ingredients can vary, and different variants of Composition C exist, including C-2 and C-3. The British variant, PE4, uses a different plasticizer and consists of 88.0% RDX, 1.0% pentaerythrite dioleate, 11.0% DG-29 lithium grease, and a minimum of 0.10% taggant chemical.
C-4 is stable and insensitive to most physical shocks, and can only be detonated by a shockwave, such as from a detonator. It is used by both military and terrorist organizations, and has a reputation for producing a "high" similar to ethanol if ingested, though this is dangerous and can lead to seizures, nausea, and vomiting.
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C-4 is very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks
C-4 is a plastic explosive that is composed of explosives, a plastic binder, a plasticizer to make it malleable, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical. It has a texture similar to modelling clay and can be moulded into any desired shape.
C-4 can only be detonated by a shockwave, such as the shockwave produced by a detonator or blasting cap. When detonated, C-4 rapidly decomposes to release nitrogen, water, carbon oxides, and other gases. It has a detonation velocity of 8,092 m/s (26,550 ft/s).
The manufacturing process for C-4 involves mixing wet RDX and plastic binder in a stainless-steel kettle through the aqueous slurry-coating process. The mixture is then dried on trays for 16 hours at 50-60 degrees Celsius to eliminate excess moisture. Military-grade C-4 is often packaged as the M112 demolition block.
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C-4 is used by both military and terrorist organizations
C-4, or Composition C-4, is a type of plastic explosive that is widely used by both military and terrorist organizations. It is composed of explosives, a plastic binder, and a plasticizer to make it malleable, with a texture similar to modelling clay. This allows it to be easily moulded into any desired shape, making it highly versatile for various applications.
The military applications of C-4 include demolition and anti-personnel weapons. Military-grade C-4 is commonly packaged as the M112 demolition block, which is used to breach obstacles or demolish large structures. Soldiers also use it in controlled demolitions, packing it into cracks and crevices to bring down heavy walls. In Vietnam, soldiers used C-4-based bombs and grenades, including the Claymore mine, which consisted of a C-4 block with embedded ball bearings that became deadly shrapnel upon detonation.
C-4 is also known for its use by terrorist organizations in attacks around the world. Its stability, destructive power, and ease of smuggling have made it a primary weapon in the terrorist arsenal. Notable terrorist attacks involving C-4 include the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in 2000, the Khobar Towers U.S. military housing complex bombing in Saudi Arabia in 1996, and various Palestinian suicide bombings in Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories.
The versatility of C-4 is further enhanced by its stability and insensitivity to most physical shocks. It cannot be detonated by a gunshot or by dropping it onto a hard surface, and it does not explode when set on fire or exposed to microwaves. This stability also makes C-4 difficult to detect, although modern security screening methods, such as advanced imaging technologies and chemical sniffers, have improved detection capabilities.
The toxic effects of C-4 ingestion have been documented, including seizures, nausea, vomiting, and other serious symptoms. During the Vietnam War era, it became common knowledge among troops that ingesting small amounts of C-4 could produce a "high" similar to that of ethanol, leading to intentional ingestion in some cases.
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C-4 is soft and hand-mouldable, making it suitable for explosive demolition
C-4 is a plastic explosive that is soft and hand-mouldable, making it suitable for explosive demolition. It is composed of explosives, a plastic binder, and a plasticiser to make it malleable. Its texture is similar to modelling clay, and it can be moulded into any desired shape. This property of C-4 makes it highly suitable for explosive demolition, as it can be easily formed into the best shapes for cutting through structural members.
The plasticity of C-4 is due to the presence of a plasticiser, which is typically a diester such as dioctyl sebacate (DOS) or dioctyl adipate (DOA). The amount of plasticiser in C-4 can vary but is usually around 5-6%. The plasticiser increases the plasticity of the explosive, making it soft and hand-mouldable.
The manufacturing process of C-4 involves adding wet RDX and a plastic binder to a stainless-steel mixing kettle, which is then tumbled to obtain a homogeneous mixture. This mixture is then dried at a temperature between 50°C and 60°C to eliminate excess moisture. The resulting product is a soft and pliable explosive that can be easily moulded by hand.
The high cutting ability of C-4 further enhances its suitability for explosive demolition. For example, a relatively small amount of C-4, when properly applied in thin sheets, can completely sever a 36-centimetre (14-inch) deep I-beam. This makes C-4 an effective tool for demolishing structures and obstacles.
C-4 is also highly stable and insensitive to most physical shocks. It cannot be detonated by a gunshot or by dropping it onto a hard surface. This stability makes it safe to handle and transport, further adding to its suitability for use in demolition operations.
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C-4 ingestion causes seizures, nausea, vomiting, and muscle twitching
C-4, or Composition C-4, is a plastic explosive that is commonly used in military operations. It is composed of explosives, a plastic binder, a plasticizer to make it malleable, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical. The primary component of C-4 is cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, or Research Department Explosive (RDX), which is an explosive nitroamine.
C-4 has been used globally since the Vietnam War, and it is known to cause toxic effects when ingested. The toxic effects of C-4 ingestion include seizures, nausea, vomiting, and muscle twitching. These effects can be severe and may require hospitalization. For example, in one case, a 21-year-old soldier experienced nausea and vomiting two hours after ingesting a cube of C-4 about 1 cm across. He then had a grand mal seizure lasting about two minutes, followed by two shorter seizures. In another case, a 30-year-old healthy male in the military presented to the emergency department after ingesting a "golf ball"-sized amount of C-4 and experiencing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, along with nausea and vomiting, approximately four hours later.
The ingestion of C-4 can also cause euphoric effects similar to those produced by alcohol toxicity, as well as mentation changes and, rarely, fulminant liver and kidney failure. The treatment for C-4 ingestion may include the use of anticonvulsant medications, detoxification with the induction of vomiting and the use of gastric binders such as charcoal, and the administration of anti-epileptic drugs.
The manufacturing process for Composition C-4 involves mixing wet RDX and plastic binder in a stainless steel kettle, drying the mixture, and then molding it into any desired shape. C-4 is very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks, and it can only be detonated by a shockwave, such as from a detonator or blasting cap. It is important to note that burning C-4 produces poisonous fumes, and ingestion of even small amounts can be dangerous.
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Frequently asked questions
C4, or Composition C-4, is a plastic explosive used by military and terrorist organisations.
C4 is made of explosives, a plastic binder, a plasticiser to make it malleable, and usually a marker or odorising taggant chemical.
C4 has a texture similar to modelling clay and can be moulded into any desired shape.
Plastic explosive is a soft and hand-mouldable solid form of explosive material.
C4 is very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks. It can only be detonated by a shockwave, such as when a detonator inserted into it is fired.
