INCENDIARY

AGENTS
Introduction:
• If we go to the history of incendiary agents we find that these agents were
used to make chemical weapons in WW2
• These weapons caused massive destruction to hundred of thousands of
lives and properties.
• The agents are being used in our daily life, that’s why we should have a
knowledge of incendiary agents which are also used to make incendiary
bombs.
Definition:

An incendiary agent is a chemical that has the capability to set fire to

material targets or the person it contacts with and cause burn.
For example: Thermite, White Phosphorous, Magnesium etc.
Classification:
Incendiary Agents are classified into four classes:
• Spontaneous Inflammable Materials e.g. Phosphorous
• Metallic Oxides e.g. Thermite.
• Oxidizing Combustible Materials e.g. Magnesium.
• Simple Inflammable Materials e.g. Petroleum, Crude Oil, its derivates and
Celluloid.
Types of Incendiary Agents:
Phosphorus:

• It is translucent, light yellow, wax –like solid.

• It can be cut with a knife.
• Insoluble in water but highly soluble in carbon di-sulphide, oils, fats, turpentine oil, alcohol and olive oil.
• When exposed to air, it undergoes oxidation and produces dense white fumes of phosphorus penta-oxide which
cause jawbones and nose diseases.
• Upon burning in the dark, emits greenish-white light.
• It catches fire easily at about 30℃ so it is kept under water.
• Sodium and Potassium:

• They are called Alkali metals.

• They are soft, silver-white and lighter than water.
• They are tarnished by moist air, so they are kept under kerosine oil.
• They decompose water at ordinary temperature with much evolution of heat which ignites the
hydrogen.
• Potassium and Sodium bombs are designed to explode on contact with water.
• Potassium is more active than sodium.
• It is easily extinguished by dry sand-poor incendiary agent.
• Petrol:

• A volatile hydrocarbon and highly flammable liquid.

• Produced from crude oil by distillation.
• It is colorless.
• It produces twice as much heat as magnesium.
• Not suitable for light bombs.
• Thermites:

• Mixture of iron oxide and aluminum.

• It burns with dazzling white light at temperature of 2500 degree C.
• It burns with spluttering effect more quickly than magnesium.
• Not extinguish by sand and water as it contains its own oxygen supply.
• It can be extinguished by water under pressure.
• Thermate:

• Mixture of powdered aluminum (3 parts), Barium Nitrate (parts), Hammer Scale, Fe

304 (8 parts).
• Mixture is compressed to half of its volume used in the bombs.
• It also burns with dazzling white light at temperature of 3000C.
• Behaves almost like Thermites.
• Crude Oil:

• An organic viscous liquid composed of hydrocarbons obtained by drilling.

• By filtration and distillation, finer oils are extracted.
• Heavy oil among them used as lubricant for heavy machinery.
• It can be extinguish by sand easily.
• Napalm:

• A stiff jelly like substance.

• It is prepared from gasoline.
• Burns for considerable time with a very huge large flame at a temperature of more than
2000 degrees.
• Insoluble in water.
• A good incendiary agent.
• Celluloid:

• A solid compound commonly used for film making.4

• It catches fire easily.
• It burns vigorously with a very high temperature.
• Naphthenic Acid:

• A good incendiary agent.

• Burns for considerable time with a very huge large flame at a temperature of
more than 2000 degrees.
• Insoluble in water.
•THANK YOU