CHAPTER IX

EXPLOSIVE AND EXPLOSION

Explosive
-is any substance that may cause
explosion by its sudden
decomposition or combustion.
-is any chemical compound or
mixture that under the influence
of heat, pressure, friction or
shock, undergoes a sudden
chemical change or
decomposition.
 CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES
I.According to the Velocity of
Reaction involved

II.According to their Chemical

structure

III. According to their application or

design
I.According to the Velocity of Reaction
involved
-the speed of chemical reaction or
detonation of the explosive
determines the classification of
explosive as:
A. Low Explosive
B. Primary and Initiating explosive
C. High Explosive
A.Low Explosives
_these are low burning and used mainly
as propellants like black and
smokeless powder.
-the rate of decomposition is a
relatively slow process and the wave
produced is less than the speed of
the sound.
-these are used for launching rockets,
projectiles from guns and missile
systems.
Classes of Low Explosives
a.Primer
b.Igniter
c.Propellant
Primer
-at the other end of the delay is
the primer, an explosive
(generally lead azide, mercury
fulminate)
Igniter (Black/ Gun Powder)
-igniter in gun propellants and safety
blasting fuses, delay fuses, signal and
distress rockets and in firecrackers are used
in mining and low power explosives.
Composition:
a.Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)+charcoal+sulfur
b.Sodium nitrate (NaNo3) +charcoal+sulfur
c.Sulfurless black powder=KNO3+charcoal
d.Pyrodex= KNO3+potassium perchlorate
e.(KclO4)+charcoal+sulfur+cyanoguanidine
Propellants
-are used in launching projectiles from
guns, rockets and missile system.
-it is a mixture of one or more
energetic materials (main charge),
plasticizers to improve processing
characteristics, stabilizers to increase
storage life and inorganic additives to
facilitate handling, ignitability and
decrease muzzle mesh.
 Kinds of Propellants
1.Smokeless Powder
-the most widely used propellant is
based on Nitrocellulose (NC).
-single based contains sole NC.
-double based contains Nitroglycerine
(NG) in addition to NC.
-Triple based contains
NG+NC+Nitroguanidine
2.Nitrates/Nitrates (found in black
powder)
-salts of nitrates, such as KNO3, is
used as ingredient in firecrackers,
gunpowder, blasting powders,
matches (improve burning properties)
-these are also used to impregnate
candle wicks.
-it is also used in picking meat and
tobacco treatment for evenly burning.
B. Primary and Initiating Explosives
-this kind of explosive is extremely
sensitive to detonation by heat, shock,
friction and impact.
-it detonates without burning, like lead
azide and mercury fulminate.
-this is used primarily to start an
explosion.
Example:initiators, blasting caps, shock
primer and stab
Characteristics of Primary Explosives
1.Can be initiated by a mechanical
shock.
2.Primary explosives are friction
and heat sensitive materials.
3.Readily ignited when comes in
contact with flame or sparks.
Blasting Cap
C. High Explosives
-these explosives have very fast or high
detonating rate like dynamites,
trinitrotoluene (TNT), and Cyclonite (RDX).
-the speed of its detonation wave equals to
1000 m/s and pressure equals to
thousands of atmospheres.
-such intensity can break a material into
fragments long before its opportunity to
move away.
II.According to their Chemical Structure
a.Organic explosives
-Nitro-containing organic compound

Carbon-nitro (C-NO2)group
Nitrate ester (C-O-NO2)
Nitramines (C-N-NO2)

b.Inorganic explosives
-these are salt-containing explosives
III.According to their application or
design

a.Military explosives

b.Industrial explosives
A.Military Explosives
-the following are some of the basic
explosives

Composition:
4(C4)-mixtures of RDX
=polyisobutylene+di (2-ethylhexyl)
secabate +fuel oil
Amatol=2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT)
+ammonium nitrate (AN) mixture
Cyclotol =TNT + ammonium picrate
Tritonal =TNT + aluminum
 B. Industrial Explosives
a.Dynamites
-first explosive invented by Alfred
Nobel.
-it contains up to 75% nitroglycerin
absorbed and desensitized by 25%
diatomaceous earth
(Kieselguhr)/oxidizer can be replaced
to increase the energy yield.
 Diagram of dynamite.
1. Sawdust soaked in
nitroglycerin.
2. Protective coating
surrounding the
explosive material.
3. Blasting cap.
4. Electrical cable (or
fuse) connected to the
blasting cap.
b.Ammonium nitrate explosives
- (AN-nitro mixture and AN-fuel
oil or ANFO)
c.Water Explosives

Slurries and water gels

-made of aqueous solution of ammonium
nitrate and sodium or calcium nitrate,
gelled by guar gum or cross linking agent.
Explosive Emulsions
-sensitized by air bubbles, introduced by
means of hallow glass or plastic bubbles.
-the storage time is limited because of the
bubbles.
Water gel explosive
d. Home-made or Improvised
Explosives
-these are
improvised
explosives
usually
assembled at
home
-these are easy
to assembly.
e.Explosives with limited use

-include those which were used in the past

and became obsolete.
Some Common Commercial Explosives
1.Blasting caps
-one of the most commonly found
explosives used to set off main charge.
-these are small thin cylinders with silver
and copper color with 0.25 t0 0.5 inch
diameter and 2 to 6 inches in length.
-it contains powerful and sensitive
explosives.
-even the heat of a person’s hand can
set off a blasting cap.
2.Safety Fuse
-a time-delay devise much like a
firecracker fuse.
-it has a black powder core and
waterproof jacket of solid striped
colors.
3.Detonating Cord
-this has a white exterior
containing PETN (Pentaerythritol
tetranitrate)

-this is used to set off multiple

charges simultaneously.
4.Blasting Agents
-a combination of fuel and oxidants such
as fuel oil and ammonium nitrate.
-the color ranges from brown to bright
pink due to the fuel added.
-this requires booster since the
components are not confined and cannot
be set off by blasting cap.
-this kind of explosive was used in New
York World Trade Center and Oklahoma
City bombings.
5.Boosters
-cylinder shaped with holes in which
blasting cap is inserted.
-this is used to increase the power of
the initiating charges.

6.Dynamites
-cartridge or sticks typically 1 to 3
inches in diameter and 8 to 24
inches in length.
Boosters
7.Slurries or gels
-liquid and semi-liquid form of
commercial explosive

8.Black or Smokeless Powder

-common over the counter
explosive used in reloading gun
ammunitions.
 Some common Military Explosives
1.Grenades - A grenade is a small bomb typically thrown by
hand.

a. Fragmentation Grenade - designed to disperse 

lethal fragments on detonation
b. Concussion - designed to disperse lethal fragments on
detonation
c. Anti Tank - designed to disperse lethal fragments on
detonation
d. Sting grenades - also known as stingball or sting ball
grenades, are stun grenades based on the design of the
fragmentation grenade
e. Chemical and gas - grenades burn or release a gas, and do
not explode. They also include smoke and incendiary grenades
2.Fuses
- A device which senses the right moment to
detonate a warhead

Two types of fuse:

a. Point detonated (PD)

-by impact, proximity or delay

b. Variable time (VT)

-detonates when the warhead is at certain distance
from the target
3.Ammunitions

4.Rockets and Missiles

5.Mines

6.Submunitions - a small weapon or device that is

part of a larger warhead and separates from it prior to impact.

7.Air drop -
8.Incendiaries
-devise that burns rather than
explode
9.Chemical ordnance
- simple as riot grenade or smoke
or bomb or as lethal as sarin
nerve gas.
-US type, typically gray with
colored bands
LABORATORY EXAMINATION
-suspected explosives and
extracted powder from live bombs
or blasting caps should be
examined qualitatively which
includes chemical and
confirmatory tests to determine
the presence of explosive and/or
explosive ingredients.
Why do law enforcers
need to know about
explosives?
1.They often encounter explosives
which are found at the
construction sites or those buried
underground.
2.Law enforcers encounter
explosives at the crime scene.
3.Law enforcers should know some
lands may contain toxic chemicals
and explosive ordnance.
EXPLOSION
-is a violent bursting or expansion caused
by the release of mechanical, chemical
or nuclear energy from the confined
area.
-this is a phenomenon resulting from a
sudden release of energy and this
happens so rapidly that a local
accumulation of energy occurs at the
site of explosion moving outward in
various ways.
IMPLOSION
- is a similar phenomenon except
that the energy released is initially
directed inward.
- an instance of something
collapsing violently inward.
 TYPES OF EXPLOSION
a. Mechanical explosion
-it is a sudden breaking apart,
shattering or bursting into pieces
by internal pressure, such as
those caused by expansion of gas
producing high pressure beyond
the capacity of the container.
-also known as pressure explosion.
b. Atomic explosion
- resulting from atomic
transformations.
c. Chemical explosion
-a source of explosion wherein the
source of energy comes from an
explosive substance such as
gunpowder produced through the
extremely rapid transformation of
the unstable substances
accompanied by the formation of
heat.
Factors affecting the rate of
explosion or Brisance
a. Method of initiation
b. Nature of explosive
c. Size and confinement of the
charge (smaller container tends to
increase the temperature from the
growing heat of reaction).
d. Physical condition (such as air
density and temperature).
Can there be an
explosion without
an explosive?
 YES, there can be an explosion
without an explosive, because
explosion may be caused by
sudden breaking apart, shattering
or bursting into pieces by internal
pressure, such as those caused by
expansion of gas producing high
pressure beyond the capacity of
the container.
Even the tiniest drop of water can be
considered as explosion.
Note:
It must be noted that the term “explosion”
should not be limited only to a phenomenon
resulting from atomic transformations
wherein the source of energy comes from an
explosive substance.
Explosion may be caused by sudden breaking
apart, shattering or bursting into pieces by
internal pressure, such as those caused by
expansion of gas producing high pressure
beyond the capacity of the container.
Mechanism and Effect of Explosion
-an explosion produces very rapid
growing shockwaves moving
outward as it transforms into a
more stable substance.
-it is accompanied by a loud and
sharp sound or reaction as it
liberates great amount of energy
in the form of heat, light and
other form of gases.
SHOCKWAVE CHAIN
REACTION STABLE
SUBSTANCE

- chain reaction causes the

decomposition and rearrangement
of molecules with the greater
release of energy.
Explosive strength
-the magnitude of an explosion
can be established based on the
amount of energy that is released.
-the absolute measure of
explosion size is determined in
terms of the energy released by
exploding an explosive.
 Damage Mechanism
a. Brisance
-is the direct measure of energy
transmission from the target.
-this is the most severe because of its
shattering action.
-is directly proportional to the speed of
decomposition of explosives.
-explosives with high shattering power are
termed high explosives.
-the brisance effect of deflagrating
materials is relatively small.
b. Sensitivity
-is the effort required to initiate
explosive decomposition.
-the lesser the effort required, the
more sensitive is the explosive.
c. Shock Wave
-the damage produced depend on
the location of explosion.
Blast wave
-if the detonation occurs above or
just below the surface of the
ground, most of the damage will
be given off by the blast, splinters
or fragments from the explosive
case that travels as fast as the
speed of sound (1000m/s)
Blast wave is generated when the
atmosphere surrounding the
explosion is forcibly pushed back.
1.Earth shock
-wave produced when an explosive
detonates underground producing
an earthquake.
2.Water shock
-wave produced when an ordnance is
detonated underwater.
Safety procedures when responding
to an explosive incident
1.Do not use two-way radios,
radar, or television transmitting
device within 500 feet.
- this includes mobile data
terminals and cellular phones.
- electromagnetic radiation given
off by these devices can detonate
the item.
2.Notify proper authorities
-BFP, Police Department, EOD, ect.
 EOD – Explosive Ordnance Disposal

3.Clear and control the area

-the size and type of explosive,
terrain, shielding and other factors
will determine the area to be
controlled.
4.Stage emergency medical services,
Fire and Police units outside the
control points.

5.Do not proceed to the suspected

explosive.
-it may have motion sensitive or
acoustic fuses that function when
disturbed or senses target.
-use binoculars to observe the area.
6.Reduce potential effect of blast
and flying shrapnel by opening
doors and windows and by
placing emergency vehicles in the
path of the blast wave to act as
shield.