Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology Page 1 of 7

Explosives – WEEK 5

 Topic: Explosives

I. INTRODUCTION:

o This module introduces the impact of explosives resulting from the detonation of different
kinds. Some explosives are of single chemical specie, but most explosives are mixtures of
several ingredients. Low and high explosives classifications are based on the velocity of
explosion, which is directly related to the type of work the explosive can perform.
II. OBJECTIVES:

 At the end of this module, you should be able to:
 Describe explosives and its related concepts
 Determine the explosives and their characteristics.
 Explain the importance of knowing about explosives.

III. PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES:

 Directions: Read the short summary of the video about homemade explosives.
 A simple mixture of a fuel and
oxidizer in a container and
a fuse can come up with a bomb or
explosive. These materials /
chemicals can found within the
community, in fact they can just in
your garage or kitchen. Caution:
These are extremely dangerous
and should not be done just for fun.
To start off, precursors are often
acids like muriatic, sulfuring, citric, nitrate and even the common acid hydrogen peroxide can be
used. Always recognize the danger, follow protocol, use proper equipment, and work with a partner
or agencies when doing these tests.

 LESSON PROPER:
 WHAT ARE EXPLOSIVES?
o An explosive refers to a substance containing a large amount of stored energy, which is
capable of undergoing a rapid chemical reaction. This reaction releases super-heated
gases that expand with great force and does not require atmospheric oxygen to sustain
combustion. A substance which can be made to explode, especially any of those used in;
bombs or shells.
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Explosives – WEEK 5

 Explosives are reactive substances containing great amount of potential energy that if released
suddenly can produce an explosion, usually accompanied by the production of light sound, heat
and pressure. The quantity of an explosive material is measured through its explosive charge.

o HISTORY OF EXPLOSIVES

 Approximately 1,000 years ago, The Chinese

invented the first chemical explosives called
gunpowder (also called black powder). It consisted of a mixture of charcoal,
sulfur, and potassium nitrate (or saltpeter).

 The Europeans may have learned about gunpowder from travelers coming from the middle east.in
fact, in the west, gunpowder was used more for wars than for fireworks by the early 13th century.
 KINDS OF EXPLOSIVES:

 I. LOW EXPLOSIVES
OR DEFLAGRATING - consist of a combustible substance and an oxidant that burns (deflagrates)
at speed levels that range from a few cm/sec. to 400 m/sec. Low explosives combine a
combustible substance and an oxidant at sufficient temperature, thus releasing heat and rapidly
expanding gases. low explosives work the same way as burning wood or coal, and the burning
occurs with more or less speed depending on the amount of oxygen in the surrounding. (e.g. black
and smokeless powders)
 CLASSES OF LOW EXPLOSIVES

 PRIMER - at the end of the delay is the primer, an explosive (generally lead azide, mercury
fulminate)
 IGNITER (BLACK /GUN POWDER) - in gun propellants and safety blasting fuses, delay fuses,
signal and distress rocket and in firecrackers are used in mining and low power explosives.

 COMPOSITION
 POTASSIUM NITRATE (KNO3); SULFUR
 SODUIM NITRATE (NaNO3 charcoal, sulfur)
 SULFURLESS BLACK POWDER-KNO3 CHARCOAL
 PYRODEX (KNO3 and POTASSIUM PERCHLORATE)
 (KClO4) CHARCOAL, SULFUR, CYANOGUANIDINE
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Explosives – WEEK 5

 PROPELLANTS- are used in launching projectiles from guns, rockets and missile system. It is a
mixture of one or more energetic materials, plasticizers to improve processing characteristics,
stabilizers to increase storage life and inorganic addictive to facilitate handling, ignitability and
decrease muzzle mesh.

 KINDS OF PROPELLANTS
 SMOKELESS POWDER- the most widely used propellant is based on nitrocellulose (NC)
single based contains sole NC, while double based contains nitroglycerine (NG) in addition
to NC and triple based contains NG-NC- nitro guanidine.
 SINGLE – BASED:
 NITROCELLULOSE (NC) DIPHENYLAMINE (DPA) DINITROTOLUENEE (DNT) DIBUTYL
PHTALATE
 NC DPA POTASSIUM SULFATE (K2SO4)
 C. NC DPA K2SO4 DNT

 DOUBLE – BASED:
 A. NC NITROGUANIDINE (NG) POTASSIUM NITRATE (KNO3) ETHYL CENTRALITE
GRAPHITE
 B. NC NG Et CENTRALITE TRIACETIN Pb SALICYLATE Pb STEARATE
 C. NC NG DIETHYL PHTALATE 2-NITRODPA LEAD SALTS WAX
 TRIPLE – BASED:
 A. NC NG NITROGUANIDINE NAAIF ET CENTRALITE
 B. NC NG NITROGUANIDINE NAAIF DIBUTYL PHTALATE 2 NITRO DPA
 NITRATES/ NITRITES (FOUND IN BLACKPOWDER) - salts of nitrates, such as KNO 3, is
used as ingredients in fireworks, gunpowder, blasting powders, matches (improve burning
prop). These are also used to impregnate candle wicks. It is also used in picking meat and
tobacco treatment for evenly.

 II. HIGH EXPLOSIVES or DETONATING - are

explosives detonate instantaneously, burn
more rapidly, and create more pressure. There
are many reaction sequences involved in a
detonation process. Commonly, it involves the
combination of a metal with chlorine, which
releases excess energy and cyclonite (RDX).
 BLASTING OIL- nitroglycerine was the first
high explosive used in commercial blasting.it is
considered dangerous because it is an
unstable chemical. In the late 1800s, Alfred
Nobel –combined a mixture of nitroglycerine
(NG) with a special type of clay called Kieselghur, which he packed into sticks.
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Explosives – WEEK 5

 DYNAMITE CONTENTS
o NITROGLYCERIN OR NG
o EGDN (ETHYLENE GLYCOL DINITRATE)
o SAWDUST WRAPPED IN BUFF, RED, WHITE, OR ORANGE WAX PAPER
o SUPPORT COMPOUNDS
o AMMONIA-GELATIN

 NITROGLYCERINE TYPE OF DYNAMITE

 The types of dynamite that use NG include the following:
o STRAIGHT DYNAMITE-Its NG content makes it the most dangerous type of dynamite to
handle and to store and has a heavy odor that is pungent yet sweet.
o AMMONIA DYNAMITE- It has a tan to light brown color and pushing heavy effect.
o GELATIN DYNAMITE- It has a semi-gel consistency with properties shared with ammonia
and ammonia- gelatin dynamites and detonation velocities up to 23,600 fps
o AMMONIA-GELATIN DYNAMITE- similar characteristics gelatin as those of the gelatin
dynamite, but users less costly ammonium nitrate as part of the explosive mixture and
detonation rate ranging from 7,000 to 13,000 fps.
o RDX MIXTURE-
 C1: COMPOSITION 1 - RDX PLASTICIZER
 C2: RDX TNT DNT MNT NC DIMETHFORMAMIDE
 C3: C2 WITHOUT DMF TETRYL
 C4: RDX SECABATE FUEL OIL POLYISOBUTYLENE
o MILITARY DYNAMITE- equivalent to 60% straight dynamite and does not freeze or exude
crystal
o C4
 Moldable
 has a shattering effect
 Contains 91% RDX (cyclonite), 8% plasticizer, and 1% other ingredients.
 Detonation velocity of to 26,400 feet /second
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Explosives – WEEK 5

 III. PRIMARY AND INITIATING EXPLOSIVE- 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. (e.g. initiators, blasting caps, shock
primer and stab.)

 CHARACTERISTICS OF PRIMARY EXPLOSIVES

 Can be initiated by a mechanical shock

 Primary explosives are friction and heat sensitive materials
 Readily ignited when comes in contact with flame or sparks.

 IV. NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES - owing to extensive research done during World War II (1939-45),
an entirely new kind of explosive was invented: nuclear explosives.

 V. NON- INITIATING EXPLOSIVES - compared with primers, non- initiating explosives are
relatively insensitive to heat, friction or shock, and will normally burn than detonate when ignited in
small quantities in the open air.
 EXAMPLES OF SECONDARY HIGH EXPLOSIVES:
 Straight dynamites, which are NG- based
 Water gels
 Detonation cord
 Military explosives
 Emulsions
 Boosters
 Slurries
 CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPLOSIVES
 Generation of heat due to the exothermic reaction
 Rapid expansion of gases
 Can be controlled in terms of rapidity and initiation of the reaction when ignited,
and
 Must have limited amount of toxicity.

 Source:
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Explosives – WEEK 5

 A bullet is defined as a hallow projectile with a generally spherical shape, containing an explosive
material and made of iron.
 A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to
provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy.
 ACCORDING TO THEIR CHEMICAL STRUCTURE
 ORGANIC EXPLOSIVES - NITRO – containing organic compound. (e.g. Carbon–Nitro (C-NO2)
group, nitrate ester (C-O-NO2) group, and Nitra mines (C-N-NO2) group)
 INORGANIC- EXPLOSIVES- these are salt- containing explosives

 ACCORDING TO THEIR APPLICATION OR DESIGN:

o MILITARY EXPLOSIVES
 The following are some of the basic explosives:
 Composition 4 (C4)- mixtures of RDX-Polyisobutylene di - (2- ethylhexyllsecabate fuel oil
 Amatol- 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) ammonium nitrate (AN) mixture
 Cyclotol- TNT ammonium picrate
 Tritonal - TNT aluminum

 SOME COMMON MILITARY EXPLOSIVES

 Grenades
 Fuses- used to initiate explosive in any warhead.

 TYPES OF FUSE

 POINT DETONATED (PD) – by impact, proximity or delay

 VARIABLE TIME (VT) – detonates when the warhead is at certain distance from the target.
 AMMUNITIONS
 ROCKETS AND MISSILES
 MINES
 SUBMUNITIONS
 AIR DROP
 INCENDIARIES- devise that burns rather than explode
 CHEMICAL ORDINANCE –simple as riot grenade or smoke bomb or as lethal as Arin nerve gas
type, typically gray with colored bands.
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Explosives – WEEK 5

 INDUSTRIAL EXPLOSIVES

o DYNAMITES- first explosives invented by Alfred Nobel. it contains up to 75% nitroglycerin

absorbed and desensitized by 25% diatomaceous earth /oxidizer can be relapsed to
increase the energy yield.
o AMMONIUM NITRATE EXPLOSIVES- a nitro mixture and an-fuel oil or info
o WATER EXPLOSIVES- slurries and water gel, explosive emulsions.
 SLURRIES AND WATER GELS –are made of aqueous solution of ammonium
nitrate and sodium or calcium nitrate, gelled by guar gum or cross linking agent.
o HOME- MADE OR IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVES- these are improvised explosives usually
assembled at home. These are easy to assembly.
o EXPLOSIVES WITH LIMITED USE- It includes those which were used in the past and
became obsolete.

 SOME COMMON COMMERCIAL EXPLOSIVES:

 BLASTING CAPS- one of the most commonly found explosives used to set off main charge.
 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 - usually, this has a white exterior containing pen. 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.
o 5) BOOSTERS - cylinder shaped with holes in which blasting cap is inserted. This is used
to increases the power of the initiating changes.
o 6) DYNAMITES - cartridge or sticks typically 1 to 3 inches in diameter and 8 to 24 inches
in length.
o 7) SLURRIES OR GELS - liquid and semi-liquid and semi-liquid form of commercial
explosive.
o 8) BLACK OR SMOKELESS POWDER - common over the counter explosive used in
reloading gun ammunitions.
 TYPES OF EXPLOSION:
 MECHANICAL – this type of explosion is caused by the expansion of gas that produces high
pressure beyond the capacity of the container.
 ATOMIC OR NUCLEAR – this type of explosion results from the atomic transformation of atomic
elements.it undergoes three stages as follow:
 Fission-splitting of the nucleus of atoms.
 Fusion- under great force joining together the nuclei of atoms, and
 Tremendous release of energy, gas, heat, and shock.
 CHEMICAL- this type of explosion is produced through the extremely rapid transformation of
unstable substances accompanied by heat formation.
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Explosives – WEEK 5

 DETONATION- refers to a violent explosion resulting from the practically instantaneous

combustion or decomposition of unstable.
 EFFECTS OF EXPLOSION:
 Heat Thermal Effect (INCENDIARY)- 3000oC – 4000oC
 Blast Pressure Effect - 1/10,000 of a second (hot expanding gas)

 SECONDARY EFFECTS OF EXPLOSION

 Focusing
 Reflection
 Structural fire
 Shielding
 Earth and water shock
o EXPLOSIVES ANALYSIS

 Explosives analysis can be undertaken using the following

methods:
 Infrared spectrophotometry
 Color test
 Griess reagent
 Diphenylamine reagent
 Alcoholic KOH

 END OF TOPIC