Meyer R., Koehler J., Homburg A. Explosives. Wiley-VCH, 2002 / Explosives 5th ed by Koehler, Meyer, and Homburg (2002)

Igniter Cord

Anzündlitze; corde d’allumage

An igniter cord is a safety fuse which burns at a fast rate (6 – 30 s/m) and with an open flame. The cord can be lit by an open flame or with by a conventional safety fuse (guide fuse) a connector. Its function is to ignite the cords in the desired sequence.

Igniter Cord Connector

Anzündlitzenverbinder

Igniter cord connectors ensure a safe transmission of the sparking combustion of the igniter cord into the gunpowder core of a connected safety fuse.

Igniter Safety Mechanism*)

Zündsicherung; dispositif de securite d’allumage

Device for interrupting (safing) or aligning (arming) an initiation train of an explosive device, i.e., a rocket motor or gas generator.

Igniter Train*)

Anzünd-Kette; chaine d’allinmage (d’amorcage)

Step-by-step arrangement of charges in pyrotechnic or propellant by which the initial fire from the primer is transmitted and intensified until it reaches and sets off the main charge. Also called burning train or explosive train.

Ignitibility*)

Zündwilligkeit; inflammabilit´e

Statement of ease with which burning of substance may be initiated.

Ignition System*)

Zündanlage; syst`eme d’allumage

Arrangement of components used to initiate combustion of propellant charge of gas generator (W Igniter Train ).

* Text quoted from glossary.

Illuminant Composition*)

Leuchtsatz; composition lumineuse

A mixture of materials used in the candle of a pyrotechnic device to produce a high intensity light as its principal function. Materials used include a fuel (-reducing agent), an oxidizing agent, at a binder plus a color intensifier and waterproofing agent. The mixture is loaded under pressure in an container to form the illuminant charge.

IMDG Code

Is the abbreviation for “International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code”. It contains all of the regulations for the transport of dangerous goods by ocean-going ships, inter alia about their classification, packaging and stowing.

IMO

Abbreviation for International Maritime Organization, London, with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG Code) contains texts of international conventions on classification, compatibility, packing, storage, etc. during transportation by sea; explosives and primers belong to class 1 of the code.

IME: Institute of Makers of Explosives*)

A non-profit trade association representing leading U.S. producers of commercial explosive materials and dedicated to safety in the manufacture, transportation, storage, and use of explosive materials.

Immobilization*)

Festlegung; immobilisation

Method of fixing propellant grain in definite position relative to generator case.

Impact Sensitivity

Schlagempfindlichkeit; sensitiveness to impact, sensibilit´ a` l’impact

The sensitiveness to impact of solid, liquid, or gelatinous explosives is tested by the fallhammer method. The samples of the explosives are

* Text quoted from glossary.

Table 21. High critical diameter (<132> 40 mm)

For impact sensitivity of confined explosive charges thrown against a steel target W Susan Test.

Impulse*)

Product of thrust in pounds by time in seconds (also W Specific Impulse).

Incendiary*)

Designates a highly exothermic composition or material that is primarily used to start fires.

Inert*)

Descriptive of condition of device that contains no explosive, pyrotechnic, or chemical agent.

To Inflame

anzünden; inflammer; allumer

The mode of ignition affects the manner in which an explosive reacts, detonating (W Detonation) or deflagrating (W Deflagration). The effect

* Text quoted from glossary.

of flame ignition differs from that of a brisant initiation produced by a blasting cap or by a booster. The non-brisant ignition is termed inflammation.

The sensitivity of explosives to inflammation varies widely. Black powder can be exploded by a spark from a spark-producing tool; smokeless powders are exploded by the brief flame jet produced by striking a percussion cap. On the other hand, the combustion of an ion-ex- changed W Permitted Explosive, ignited by a gas flame, is extinguished as soon as the flame source is removed.

W Initiating Explosives always detonate when inflamed.

Inhibited Propellant*)

Oberflächenbehandelter Treibsatz; propellant trait´e de surface

A propellant grain in which a portion of the surface area has been treated to control the burning.

Initiating Explosives

primary explosives; Initialsprengstoffe; explosifs d’amor¸cage; explosifs primaires

Primary explosives can detonate by the action of a relatively weak mechanical shock or by a spark; if used in the form of blasting caps, they initiate the main explosive. They are also filled in percussion caps mixed with friction agents and other components.

An initiating explosive must be highly brisant and must have a high triggering velocity. The most important primary explosives are mercury fulminate, lead azide, lead trinitroresorcinate, silver azide, diazodinitrophenol, tetrazene, and the heavy metal salts of 5-nitrotetrazole. Which is used as an additive in primers. Initiating charges must be transported only if they are already pressed into capsules; the latter are usually made of aluminum, and sometimes of copper, while plastic capsules are used for special purposes (W Blasting Caps; W Bridgewire Detonators; W Bullet Hit Squib).

Initiation

Zündung; mise a` feu

Initiation means to set of explosive charges. The decomposition of an explosive can undergo W Deflagration (subsonic propagation rate) or

* Text quoted from glossary.

W Detonation (supersonic propagation rate), depending on the manner and intensity of the ignition and on amount of W Confinement.

Non-brisant, i.e. flame ignition, is known as “inflammation”. Brisant initiators include blasting caps, electric detonators, W Primers and W Detonating Cords. The initiating shock can be intensified by interposition of W Boosters, when the charge is insensitive.

Im rocketry, initiation means the functioning of the first element in an

W Igniter Train.

Initiator*)

A device used as a primary stimulus component in all explosive or pyrotechnic devices, such as detonator primer or squib, which, on receipt of proper mechanical or electrical impulse, produces burning or detonating action. Generally contains a small quantity of sensitive explosive (W Squib; W Detonator; W Primer; W Bullet Hit Squib).

Instantaneous, Detonator*)

Momentzünder; d´etonateur instantan´e

A detonator that has a firing time essentially of zero seconds as compared to delay detonators with firing times of from several milliseconds to several seconds.

Insulation*)

Isolierung; isolement

Thermal barrier designed to prevent excessive heat transfer from hot combustion products to case of rocket.

Ion Propellants

Ionentreibstoffe

In vacuo, i.e., under space travel conditions, ions, which are atomic carriers of electric charges, can be accelerated by electric fields and bunched to give a single beam. The discharge velocity thus attained is of a higher order than that of gaseous products from chemical reactions. For this reason, very high values of specific impulse can be produced.

* Text quoted from glossary.