Meyer R., Koehler J., Homburg A. Explosives. Wiley-VCH, 2002 / Explosives 5th ed by Koehler, Meyer, and Homburg (2002)
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Porous Powder |
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Polyvinyl Nitrate
Polyvinylnitrat; nitrate de polyvinyle; PVN
yellowish-white powder
empirical formula of the structure unit: C2H3NO3 molecular weight of the structure unit: 89.05 average molecular weight: 200000
energy of formation: – 252.1 kcal/kg = –1054.8 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: – 275.4 kcal/kg = –1152.1 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 44.9 %
nitrogen content: depends on nitration grade volume of explosion gases: 958 l/kg
heat of explosion
(H2O liq.): 1143 kcal/kg = 4781 kJ/kg (H2O gas): 1073 kcal/kg = 4490 kJ/kg specific energy: 129 mt/kg = 1269 kJ/kg
density: 1.6 g/cm3
softening point: 30 – 40 °C = 86 –104 °F detonation velocity:
7000 m/s = 23000 ft/s at r = 1.5 g/cm3 deflagration point: 175 °C = 350 °F impact sensitivity: 1.0 kp m = 10 N m friction sensitivity: at 20 kp = 196 N
pistil load reaction
critical diameter of steel sleeve test: 8 mm
Polyvinyl nitrate is prepared by esterification of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using nitric acid or a nitrating mixture. Depending on the degree of saponification of polyvinyl alcohol, which is prepared from polyvinyl acetate, the products have varying nitrogen contents and rheological properties, depending on the manufacturing conditions manufacture and the degree of polymerization. PVN is a thermoplastic, macromolecular substance, with a softening zone which varies between 30 and 45 °C = 86 and 113 °F, depending on the molecular weight of the starting polyvinyl alcohol.
Porous Powder
Poröses Pulver; poudre poreux
Special powders for exercise ammunition with a large internal surface area and thus, a fast burning rate. The porosity is produced by adding a soluble salt to the powder being manufactured; the salt is then leached out again at a later stage.
Post Combustion |
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Post Combustion
Nachflammen;
Combustion of flammable fumes of a deflagrated or detonated explosive with a negative oxygen balance (W also Muzzle Flash).
Post-Detonation
W Hangfire.
Potassium Chlorate
Kaliumchlorat; chlorate de potassium
KClO3
colorless crystals molecular weight: 122.6 oxygen balance: +39.2 % density: 2.34 g/cm3
melting point: 370 °C = 700 °F
Potassium chlorate is sparingly soluble in cold water, readily soluble in hot water, and insoluble in alcohol.
It is the principal component of W Chlorate Explosives and is an important component of primer formulations and pyrotechnical compositions, in particular matchheads.
Potassium Nitrate
saltpetre; Kaliumnitrat; nitrate de potasse
KNO3
colorless crystals molecular weight: 101.1
energy of formation: –1157 kcal/kg = – 4841 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation: –1169 kcal/kg = – 4891 kJ/kg oxygen balance: +39.6 %
nitrogen content: 13.86 % density: 2.10 g/cm3
melting point: 314 °C = 597 °F
Potassium nitrate is readily soluble in water, sparingly soluble in alcohol, and insoluble in ether.
It is used as a component in pyrotechnical compositions, in inustrial explosives, and in black power.
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Potassium Perchlorate |
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Specifications |
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Class |
Class |
Class |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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net content (e.g., by |
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N-determination) |
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at least |
99.5 % |
99.5 % |
99.5 % |
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moisture: |
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not more than |
0.2 % |
0.2 % |
0.2 % |
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water-insoluble: |
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not more than |
0.1 % |
0.1 % |
0.1 % |
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grit: |
none |
none |
none |
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acidity: |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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alkalinity: |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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chlorides as KCl: |
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not more than |
0.07 % |
0.07 % |
0.07 % |
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chlorates and perchlorates, as |
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K-salt: |
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not more than |
0.5 % |
0.5 % |
0.5 % |
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Al2O3 + Fe2O3: |
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not more than |
0.5 % |
0.5 % |
– |
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CaO + MgO: |
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not more than |
0.5 % |
0.5 % |
0.5 % |
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Na as Na2O: |
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not more than |
0.25 % |
0.25 % |
– |
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nitrogen content: |
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at least |
13.77 % |
13.77 % |
13.77 % |
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Potassium Perchlorate
Kaliumperchlorat; perchlorate de potassium
KClO4
colorless crystals molecular weight: 138.6 oxygen balance: +46.2 % density: 2.52 g/cm3
melting point: 610 °C = 1130 °F (decomposition begins at 400 °C = 750 °F)
Potassium perchlorate is insoluble in alcohol but soluble in water. It is prepared by reacting a soluble potassium salt with sodium perchlorate or perchloric acid. It is employed in pyrotechnics.
Specifications
colorless odorless crystals
net content (KCl determination
Poudre B |
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after reduction): not below |
99 % |
moisture: not more than |
0.5 % |
insolubles in water: |
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not more than |
0.1 % |
solution in hot water: |
clear |
chlorides as KCl: |
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not more than |
0.1 % |
bromate as KBrO3: |
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not more than |
0.1 % |
chlorate as KClO3: |
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not more than |
0.1 % |
NH4-, Na-, Mgand Ca-salts: |
none |
heavy metals |
none |
pH |
6.5 ± 0.5 |
Poudre B
French gunpowder. A single base nitrocellulose propellant stabilized by 1.5 – 2 % diphenylamine. The sufix (e.g., Poudre B Ba) denotes:
Suffix |
Shape of Powder |
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Grain |
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Ba |
short rods (batonnet)ˆ |
Bd |
bands |
Cd |
long rods (corde) |
Di |
disks |
FP |
flakes (paillette; obsolete denomination) |
Pa |
flakes (paillette) |
Se |
flattened balls (sphere ecras´ee)´ |
SP |
balls (sphere)` |
7 T |
tubes with 7 holes |
19 T |
tubes with 19 holes |
Tf |
slotted tubes (tube fendu) |
Tu |
tubes (tubulaire) |
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Powder Form Explosives
Pulverförmige Sprengstoffe; explosifs pulverulents
Industrial explosives must be easy to shape, i.e., must have a gelatinous or powdery consistency in order to introduce the detonator or electric cap. Powder-form explosives are mostly based on ammonium nitrate and fuel components (e.g., aluminum).
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Pre-splitting (Pre-shearing)*) |
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The powders can be sensitized by the addition of nitroglycerine in small percentages. Non-cap sensitive powders (W Blasting Agents) need a booster charge for safe initiation.
Certain types of powder-form explosives contain moisture repelling additives such as stearates; in paraffinated cartridges they can be applied even under wet conditions. Non-cartridged powder form explosives must be free-flowing (W ANFO).
Ion exchanged W Permitted Explosives are based on so-called salt pairs (sodium nitrate ammonium chloride or potassium nitrate – ammonium chloride) and are thus also in powder form.
Pre-ignition*)
Vorzeitige Selbstentzündung; allumage spontan´e
Spontaneous and premature ignition.
Premature Firing*)
Frühzündung; d´epart pr´ematur´
The detonation of an explosive charge or the ignition of an electric blasting cap before the planned time. This can be a hazardous occurrence and is usually accidental.
Prequalification Test*)
Vorprüfung; test pr´eliminaire
Brief test program conducted on an item or system to determine if it will meet only the most rigorous specified requirements.
Pre-splitting (Pre-shearing)*)
Vorspalten; tendage pr´eliminaire
A W Contour Blasting method in which cracks for the final contour are created by firing a single row of holes prior to the blasting of the rest of the holes for the blast pattern.
* Text quoted from glossary.
Pressing of Rocket Propellant Charges |
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Pressing of Rocket Propellant Charges
Pressen von Treibsätzen; moulage des propellants de roquette par pression
Rocket compositions of both double base and composite type are shaped into the desired form (e.g., star-shaped configurations) on extrusion or screw-type presses through a die or by casting and curing.
Press-Molding of Explosives
Pressen von Sprengstoffen; moinlage d’explosifs pa pression
The purpose of compression by hydraulic presses is similar to that of casting, i.e. to attain a high loading density (W Brisance) while at the same time imparting the desired shape to the charge.
Certain explosives (TNT, Tetryl, etc.) can be compacted by compression in the absence of any additives; sensitive explosives such as PETN (Nitropenta), RDX (Cyclonite), or HMX (Octogen) have to be phlegmatized by the incorporation of wax. The wax reduces the impact sensitivity and, at the same time, acts as a binder.
Plastic binder materials: W LX and W PBX.
Pressure Cartridge*)
Druckgas-Patrone; cartouche g´en´eratrice de gaz
Pyrotechnic device in which propellant combination is used to produce pressurized gas for short duration.
Prills
denote the ammonium nitrate pellets obtained by cooling free falling droplets of the molten salt in so called prill towers. By special processing, they can be porous and are capable of absorbing a certain percentage of liquid hydrocarbons (W ANFO). The ready made ANFOexplosive is also marketed under the name “Prills”.
* Text quoted from glossary.
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Progressive Burning Powder |
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Primary Blast*)
Hauptsprengung; tir primaire
A blast that loosens the rock of ore from its original or natural location in the ground. A secondary blast may be used to reduce the rocks from the primary blast to smaller size for ease of handling.
Primary Explosive*)
Initialsprengstoff; explosif d’amorcage
A sensitive explosive which nearly always detonates by simple ignition from such means as spark, flame, impact and other primary heat sources of appropriate magnitude (W Initiating Explosives).
Primer*)
A primary initiating device to produce a hot flame. A primary stimulus sensitive component generally used to generate a brisant output for initiating detonating compositions. Infrequently used to initiate deflagrating compositions (W Squib; W Detonator; W Initiator).
Primer Charge
Zündladung; charge d’amor¸cage
Secondary component in an W Ignition Train, which is ignited by an initiator, starts pressurization of a generator, and ignites the booster charge.
For the firing of industrial explosives, primers are prepared by inserting a blasting cap or an electric detonator in hole of a cartridge of a capsensitive explosive.
In military ammunition primers are charges used to initiate the main explosive charge of a weapon containing built in detonators.
Progressive Burning Powder
Progressiv-Pulver; poudre progressive
Gunpowder which burns at a progressively increasing rate, owing to the appropriate choice of the geometry of the powder grain and sometimes owing to a suitable grain surface coating. Examples are perforated powders (7-hole powder, 19-hole-powder, etc.).
* Text quoted from glossary.
Projectile Impact Sensitivity |
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Projectile Impact Sensitivity
Beschußempfindlichkeit; sensibilit´ a` l’impact de projectiles
W also Armor Plate Impact Test and W Impact Sensitivity.
The projectile impact sensitivity is the reaction of an explosive charge if hit by infantry projectiles. Impact safety is given if the charge does not fully explode at impact. The projectile impact sensitivity does not only depend on the type of explosive itself, but also on the nature of its confinement (metallic, plastic, thin-walled, or thick-walled). A single bullet impact by an ordinary or a hard steel cored projectile, or a machine gun burst, will create different reactions.
A test has been developed in Sweden: cylinders made of copper, brass, and aluminum (15 mm P) are brought to accurately adjusted and measured impact velocities (W Impact Sensitivity).
Propellant*)
Treibstoff; produit propulsif; W Gunpowder
Explosive material with low rate of combustion. May be either solid or liquid. Will burn smoothly at uniform rate after ignition without depending on interaction with atmosphere. Single base propellant consists primarily of matrix of nitrocellulose. Double base propellant contains nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine. Composite propellant contains oxidizing agent in matrix of binder.
Propellant Types: |
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a) Composite |
Finely divided oxidizers dispersed in fuel |
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matrix. |
(1) |
Ammonium nitrate oxidizer |
(2) |
Ammonium perchlorate oxidizer |
(3) |
Nitramine (RDX or HMX) oxidizer |
b) Double-Base |
Homogeneous colloidal propellant consisting |
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of nitrocellulose dissolved in plasticizer com- |
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prised of nitroglycerine and inert materials |
c) Plastisol |
Composite or double-base propellant in which |
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polymer is dissolved in plasticizier |
d) Composite |
Double base propellant containing |
Double-Base |
dispersed phase of finely ground oxidizer and |
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(usually) powdered fuel additive |
e) Single-Base |
Colloid of nitrocellulose and inert plasticizers |
* Text quoted from glossary.
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Propyleneglycol Dinitrate |
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Propellant Area Ratio
Klemmung; resserrement
In rocket technology, the ratio between the burning surface of the propellant and the smallest cross-section of the nozzle. It determines the resultant pressure in the combustion chamber of the rocket (other relevant keywords: W Burning Rate, W Gas Jet Velocity, W Rocket, W Solid Propellant Rocket, W Specific Impulse, W Thrust).
Propellant-actuated Power Devices*)
Any tool or special mechanized device or gas generator system which is actuated by a propellant or which releases and directs work through a propellant charge.
Propergols
In rocket technology, a collective term for all chemical propellants.
Propyleneglycol Dinitrate
methylnitroglycol; Propylenglykoldinitrat; dinitrate de propyl`eneglycol propanediol dinitrate
colorless liquid
empirical formula: C3H6N2O6 molecular weight: 166.1 oxygen balance: – 28.9 % nitrogen content: 16.87 % density (20 °C): 1.368 g/cm3 lead block test: 540 cm3/10 g
Propyleneglycol dinitrate is readily soluble in organic solvents, but is practically insoluble in water. It is obtained by nitration of propyleneglycol with mixed acid.
* Text quoted from glossary.
Propyl Nitrate |
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Propyl Nitrate
Propylnitrat; nitrate de propyle
colorless liquid
empirical formula: C3H7NO3 molecular weight: 105.1 energy of formation:
n:
–456.8 kcal/kg = –1911 kJ/kg iso:
–491.6 kcal/kg = – 2057 kJ/kg enthalpy of formation:
n:
–487.8 kcal/kg = – 2041 kJ/kg iso:
–522.6 kcal/kg = – 2184 kJ/kg oxygen balance: – 99.0 % nitrogen content: 13.33 %
heat of explosion (H2O liq.): n:
782 kcal/kg = 3272 kJ/kg iso:
747 kcal/kg = 3126 kJ/kg density:
n:
1.058 g/cm3 (20 °C) iso:
1.036 g/cm3 (20 °C)
impact sensitivity: up to 5 kp m = 49 N m no reaction
n-Propyl nitrate serves as a W Monergol in liquid propellant rockets.
Pulsed Infusion Shotfiring
Stoßtränkungssprengen; Drucktränksprengen; tir d’impr´egnation
This blasting technique combines the effect of an explosive charge in coal mine blasting with the effect of water pressure. The borehole is loaded with the explosive charge, after which water is pressed into the borehole with the aid of the so-called water infusion pipe, and the charge is ignited while maintaining the water pressure. The pressure shock in the water causes the coal to disintegrate into large lumps.