Since gunpowder was invented, the world race for the most powerful explosives has not stopped. This is still relevant today, despite the emergence of nuclear weapons.

RDX is an explosive drug

Back in 1899, for the treatment of inflammation in the urinary tract, the German chemist Hans Genning patented the drug hexogen, an analogue of the well-known urotropin. But soon doctors lost interest in him due to side intoxication. Only thirty years later it turned out that RDX turned out to be the most powerful explosive, moreover, more destructive than TNT. A kilogram of RDX explosives will produce the same destruction as 1.25 kilograms of TNT.

Pyrotechnics specialists mainly characterize explosives as high-explosive and high-explosive. In the first case, one speaks of the volume of gas released during the explosion. Like, the larger it is, the more powerful the explosiveness. Brisance, in turn, depends on the rate of formation of gases and shows how explosives can crush surrounding materials.

10 grams of RDX in an explosion emit 480 cubic centimeters of gas, while TNT - 285 cubic centimeters. In other words, hexagen is 1.7 times more powerful than TNT in terms of explosiveness and 1.26 times more dynamic in terms of brisance.

However, the media most often uses a certain average indicator. For example, the atomic charge "Kid", dropped on August 6, 1945, on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, is estimated at 13-18 kilotons of TNT. Meanwhile, this does not characterize the power of the explosion, but speaks of how much TNT is needed to release the same amount of heat as during the indicated nuclear bombardment.

Octogen - half a billion dollars in air

In 1942, the American chemist Bachmann, while conducting experiments with hexogen, accidentally discovered a new substance, HMX, in the form of an impurity. He offered his find to the military, but they refused. Meanwhile, a few years later, after it was possible to stabilize the properties of this chemical compound, the Pentagon nevertheless became interested in HMX. True, it was not widely used in its pure form for military purposes, most often in a molding mixture with TNT. This explosive is called "oktolom". It turned out to be 15% more powerful than RDX. As for its effectiveness, it is believed that one kilogram of HMX will produce as much damage as four kilograms of TNT.

However, in those years, the production of HMX was 10 times more expensive than the manufacture of RDX, which held back its release in the Soviet Union. Our generals calculated that it is better to produce six shells with RDX than one shell with octol. That is why the explosion of an ammunition depot in Vietnamese Cui Ngon in April 1969 cost the Americans so dearly. Then a Pentagon spokesman said that due to the sabotage of the partisans, the damage amounted to $ 123 million, or about $ 0.5 billion in current prices.

In the 80s of the last century, after Soviet chemists, including E.Yu. Orlov, developed an effective and inexpensive technology for the synthesis of HMX, and we began to produce it in large volumes.

Astrolite - good, but smells bad

In the early 60s of the last century, the American company EXCOA presented a new explosive based on hydrazine, claiming that it was 20 times more powerful than TNT. The Pentagon generals who arrived for testing were knocked down by the eerie smell of an abandoned public toilet. However, they were ready to tolerate it. However, a series of tests with aerial bombs fueled with astrolite A 1-5 showed that the explosives were only twice as powerful as TNT.

After Pentagon officials rejected this bomb, engineers from EXCOA proposed a new version of this explosive already under the ASTRA-PAK brand, and for digging trenches using a directed explosion. In a commercial, a soldier poured a thin trickle over the ground, and then detonated liquid from a hiding place. And a human-sized trench was ready. On its own initiative, EXCOA produced 1000 sets of such explosives and sent them to the Vietnamese front.

In reality, it all ended sadly and anecdotally. The resulting trenches exuded such a disgusting smell that American soldiers tried to leave them at any cost, regardless of orders and danger to life. Those who remained fainted. The unused kits were sent back to the EXCOA office at their own expense.

Explosives that kill their own

Along with RDX and HMX, the hard-to-pronounce tetranitropentaerythritol, which is more often called ten, is considered a classic of explosives. However, due to its high sensitivity, it has not received widespread use. The fact is that for military purposes, it is not so much explosives that are more destructive than others that are important, but those that do not explode from any touch, that is, with low sensitivity.

The Americans are especially picky about this issue. It was they who developed the NATO standard STANAG 4439 for the sensitivity of explosives that can be used for military purposes. True, this happened after a series of serious incidents, including: the explosion of a warehouse at the American Bien Ho Air Force base in Vietnam, which cost the lives of 33 technicians; the crash aboard the aircraft carrier Forrestal, which damaged 60 aircraft; detonation in the storage of aircraft missiles on board the aircraft carrier "Oriskani" (1966), also with numerous casualties.

Chinese destroyer

In the 80s of the last century, the substance tricyclic urea was synthesized. It is believed that the first people to receive these explosives were the Chinese. Tests have shown the enormous destructive power of "urea" - one kilogram of it replaced twenty-two kilograms of TNT.

Experts agree with such conclusions, since the "Chinese destroyer" has the highest density of all known explosives, and at the same time has the maximum oxygen coefficient. That is, during the explosion, one hundred percent of the material is burned. By the way, for TNT it is 0.74.

In reality, tricyclic urea is not suitable for military operations, primarily due to its poor hydrolytic stability. The very next day, with standard storage, it turns into mucus. However, the Chinese managed to get another "urea" - dinitromourea, which, although worse in explosiveness than the "destroyer", but also belongs to one of the most powerful explosives. Today it is produced by the Americans at their three pilot plants.

A Pyromaniac's Dream - CL-20

Explosive CL-20 today is positioned as one of the most powerful. In particular, the media, including Russian ones, claim that one kg of CL-20 causes destruction, which requires 20 kg of TNT.

It is interesting that the Pentagon allocated money for the development of the СL-20 only after the American press reported that such explosives had already been made in the USSR. In particular, one of the reports on this topic was called: "Perhaps this substance was developed by the Russians at the Zelinsky Institute."

In reality, the Americans considered another explosive first obtained in the USSR as a promising explosive, namely diaminoazoxyfurazan. Along with its high power, significantly superior to HMX, it has a low sensitivity. The only thing that hinders its widespread use is the lack of industrial technologies.

Classification of explosives

Explosives and explosive systems, in accordance with their main areas of application, are divided into four groups:

1 - initiating explosives;

2 - blasting explosives;

3 - propelling explosives or gunpowder;

4 - pyrotechnic compositions.

Initiating explosives. They are distinguished by low efficiency, but high sensitivity to thermal and mechanical influences, under the influence of which detonation develops in them. The period of the increase in the detonation velocity to the maximum value for initiating explosives is very small and therefore even small charges can be used as initiators of explosive processes to excite detonation in the main charges of explosive sealed cartridges, detonator caps, initiation devices and other explosive devices.

The most important representatives of this group of explosives are:

1.Salts of heavy metals of explosive acid. Of these, the most widely used is mercury fulminate Hg (ONC) 2.

2.Salts of hydrazoic acid or azides. The most widely used is lead azide - PbN 6.

3.Salts of heavy metals styphnic acid. The most important representative of this series is styphnate or lead trinitroresorcinate (THRS) - C 6 H (NO 2) 3 O 2 Pb. H 2 O.

4. Cabids of heavy metals or acetylenides, of which the most famous is silver acetylenide Ag 2 C 2.

Initiating mixtures are also used, consisting of explosive mercury, calcium chlorate and antimony trisulfide.

All initiating substances are classified as primary explosives.

High explosives. They are characterized by high performance and are used in torpedoes, shaped charges, shaped pipe cutters, seismic charges and other devices for use in wells. Their detonation is caused by sufficiently large external influences and, as a rule, initiating substances are used for this. Therefore, blasting agents are called secondary.

The main type of their explosive transformation is detonation, but when an explosion is initiated, the period of increase in the rate of the process to a maximum is much longer for them than for the primary ones.

The most important representatives of the explosive compounds of this group are:

1.Nitrates or esters of nitric acid. Among them are nitroglycerin (glycerol nitrate) C 3 H 5 (ONO 2) 3, ten (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) - C (CH 2 ONO 2) 4, cellulose nitrates C 24 H 29 O 9 (ONO 2) 11.

2.Nitro compounds. The most widely used are nitro compounds of the aromatic series, mainly trinitro derivatives. These include:

TNT (trinitrotoluene) C 6 H 2 (NO 2) 3 CH 3

Picric acid (trinitrophenol) C 6 H 2 (NO 2) 3 OH,

Of the non-aromatic nitro compounds, it should be noted that hexogen (trimethylenetrinitramine) C 3 H 6 O 6 N 6, which is widely used in blasting devices, and tetranitromethane C (NO 2) 4

3. Explosive mixtures. These include ammonites, dynamites, alloys of TNT with hexogen.

Propellant explosives or gunpowder. Their main type of explosive transformation is rapid combustion.

They fall into two groups:

1. gunpowder - mechanical mixtures;

2.Powder smokeless or nitrocellulose propellant.

The first group includes black powder, consisting of potash nitrate (75%), charcoal (15%) and sulfur (10%).

Powder nitrocellulose, depending on the nature of the solvent used for gelation (gelling) of their main component - nitrocellulose, are divided into four groups.

1.Powder on a volatile solvent or pyroxylin powder containing up to 98% pyroxylin, alcohol-ether solvent, diphenylamine and moisture;

2. Powder on a low-volatility solvent or ballistitis, in which nitroglycerin, nitrodiglycol, etc. serve as a solvent for pyroxylin. substances. Ballistites are made on the basis of the so-called soluble pyroxylin, contain 40% nitroglycerin, in which this type of pyroxylin is completely dissolved, up to 15% of other additives.

3. Mixed solvent powder or cordites are made on the basis of the so-called insoluble pyroxylin. They contain up to 60% nitroglycerin and as an additional solvent up to 1.5% acetone, as well as some other additives.

4. Powder on a non-volatile solvent in which such explosives as TNT, dinitrotoluene and others serve for the gelation of pyroxylin.

Oxygen balance

In blasting explosives, oxygen is in most cases the oxidizing agent. We are talking, of course, about oxygen, which is part of the explosive. If, during an explosive transformation, all oxygen is consumed for the complete oxidation of combustible components, then such substances or mixtures are called stoichiometric ... Real explosive and combustible substances have an excess or lack of oxygen. In the case of an excess of oxygen, the explosion products do not contain compounds hazardous to human health. Lack of oxygen entails a real possibility of the formation of toxic compounds (CO, etc.). Therefore, before testing shooting and explosive equipment, opening the cases of partially triggered devices, using explosive devices in closed rooms, it is necessary to know and be able to evaluate such a characteristic as the oxygen balance. The oxygen balance of explosives can be positive or negative. A positive oxygen balance is an excess of oxygen in grams that remains underutilized during the complete oxidation of 100 grams of a substance. Has the designation: + 20. Negative oxygen balance is a lack of oxygen in grams, compared to the amount required for complete oxidation of 100 grams of a substance. It is indicated as - 30.

Let's consider some examples of determining the oxygen balance. From the very definition of the oxygen balance, it follows that the maximum oxygen balance is pure oxygen +100. To determine the oxygen balance of pure hydrogen, we compose the reaction equation 2H 2 + O 2 = 2 H 2 O, and the proportion 4: 32 = 100: x, whence x = 800 or the oxygen balance of pure hydrogen is - (- 800). This is the maximum negative oxygen balance.

Let us determine the oxygen balance for some other substances, assuming that nitrogen does not participate in the reactions. For nitrogen tetroxide, it is +70 (N 2 O 4 ® N 2 + 2O 2) The proportion is made on the basis of the following considerations: when N 2 O 4 (92 g - mol) decays, 64 g-mol is released. oxygen, and upon decomposition of 100 g of N 2 O 4, x g oxygen. For tetranitromethane C (NO 2) 4, the oxygen balance is +49 (CO 2 + 4N + 3O 2) 196: 96 = 100: x.

RDX has a negative oxygen balance (C 3 H 6 O 6 N 6) equal to 21.6; for TNT it is even higher (C 7 H 5 N 3 O 6) - (-74).

Explosive substances have long become a part of human life. This article will tell you what they are, where they are applied and what are the rules for storing them.

A bit of history

From time immemorial, man has tried to create substances that, under a certain influence from the outside, caused an explosion. Naturally, this was not done for peaceful purposes. And one of the first widely known explosive substances was the legendary Greek fire, the recipe for which is still not known for sure. This was followed by the creation of gunpowder in China around the 7th century, which, on the contrary, was first used for entertainment purposes in pyrotechnics, and only then was adapted for military needs.

For several centuries, the opinion has been established that gunpowder is the only explosive known to man. Only at the end of the 18th century was the fulminate of silver discovered, which is well-known under the unusual name "explosive silver". Well, after this discovery, picric acid, "explosive mercury", pyroxylin, nitroglycerin, TNT, hexogen and so on appeared.

Concept and classification

In simple terms, explosive substances are special substances or mixtures of them that, under certain conditions, can explode. These conditions can include an increase in temperature or pressure, a shock, a shock, sounds of specific frequencies, as well as intense lighting or even light touch.

For example, acetylene is considered one of the most famous and widespread explosive substances. It is a colorless gas that is odorless in its pure form and lighter than air. Acetylene used in production has a pungent smell, which is imparted to it by impurities. It has become widespread in gas welding and metal cutting. Acetylene can explode at temperatures of 500 degrees Celsius or on prolonged contact with copper and silver on impact.

At the moment, a lot of explosive substances are known. They are classified according to many criteria: composition, physical condition, explosive properties, directions of application, degree of danger.

In the direction of application, explosives can be:

industrial (used in many industries, from mining to material processing);
experimental and experimental;
the military;
special purpose;
antisocial use (often this includes homemade mixtures and substances that are used for terrorist and hooligan purposes).

The degree of danger

Also, as an example, we can consider explosive substances according to their degree of danger. In the first place are hydrocarbon-based gases. These substances are prone to arbitrary detonation. These include chlorine, ammonia, freons, and so on. According to statistics, almost a third of accidents in which explosives are the main actors are associated with hydrocarbon-based gases.

This is followed by hydrogen, which under certain conditions (for example, a compound with air in a ratio of 2: 5) acquires the greatest explosiveness. Well, the top three of the leaders in terms of the degree of danger are closed by a pair of liquids that are prone to ignition. First of all, these are vapors of fuel oil, diesel fuel and gasoline.

Explosives in military affairs

Explosives are widely used in military affairs. There are two types of explosion: combustion and detonation. Due to the fact that the gunpowder burns, when it explodes in a confined space, it does not destroy the sleeve, but the formation of gases and the bullet or projectile escaping from the barrel. TNT, RDX or ammonal detonate and create a blast wave, the pressure rises sharply. But in order for the detonation process to occur, an external influence is necessary, which can be:

mechanical (shock or friction);
thermal (flame);
chemical (reaction of an explosive with some other substance);
detonation (there is an explosion of one explosive next to another).

Based on the last point, it becomes clear that two large classes of explosives can be distinguished: composite and individual. The former are mainly composed of two or more substances that are not chemically related. It happens that, individually, such components are not capable of detonation and can exhibit a similar property only when in contact with each other.

Also, in addition to the main components, the composition of the composite explosive may contain various impurities. Their purpose is also very broad: regulation of sensitivity or high-explosiveness, weakening of explosive characteristics or their enhancement. Since in recent years global terrorism has been spreading more and more with the help of impurities, it has become possible to locate where the explosive was made and find it with the help of service dogs.

With individuals, everything is clear: sometimes they do not even need oxygen for a positive thermal yield.

High explosiveness and explosiveness

Usually, in order to understand the power and strength of an explosive, it is necessary to have an idea of characteristics such as high explosiveness and explosiveness. The first means the ability to destroy surrounding objects. The higher the blasting rate (which, by the way, is measured in millimeters), the better the substance is suitable as a filling for an aerial bomb or projectile. High blasting explosives will create a strong shock wave and give high velocity to the flying debris.

High explosiveness, on the other hand, refers to the ability to eject surrounding materials. It is measured in cubic centimeters. Explosives with high explosiveness are often used when working with soil.

Safety when working with explosive substances

The list of injuries that a person can receive due to accidents associated with explosives is very, very extensive: thermal and chemical burns, contusion, nervous shock from impact, injuries from fragments of glass or metal dishes containing explosive substances, damage eardrum. Therefore, safety precautions when working with explosive substances have their own characteristics. For example, when working with them, it is necessary to have a protective screen made of thick organic glass or other durable material. Also, those who directly work with explosive substances should wear a protective mask or even a helmet, gloves and an apron made of durable material.

The storage of explosive substances also has its own characteristics. For example, their illegal storage has consequences in the form of liability, according to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Dust contamination of stored explosives must be prevented. Containers with them must be tightly closed so that vapors do not enter the environment. An example is toxic explosives, the vapors of which can cause both headaches and dizziness, and paralysis. Flammable explosive substances are stored in isolated warehouses that have fireproof walls. Areas where explosive chemicals are located must be equipped with fire-fighting equipment.

Epilogue

So, explosives can be both a faithful helper to humans and an enemy if handled and stored improperly. Therefore, it is necessary to follow the safety rules as closely as possible, and also not to try to pretend to be a young pyrotechnic and tinker with any artisanal explosive substances.

Explosives are very diverse in their chemical composition, physical properties and state of aggregation. Many BBs are known, which are solids, less common are liquid, there are also gaseous ones, for example, a mixture of methane with air.

In principle, an explosive can be any mixture of a fuel and an oxidizing agent. The oldest BB, black powder, is a mixture of two fuels (coal and sulfur) with an oxidizing agent (potassium nitrate). Another type of such mixtures - oxyliquites - is a mixture of finely dispersed fuel (soot, moss, sawdust, etc.) with liquid oxygen.

A necessary condition for obtaining BB from a fuel and an oxidizer is their thorough mixing. However, no matter how thoroughly the components of the explosive mixture are mixed, it is impossible to achieve such uniformity of composition in which an oxidant molecule would be adjacent to each fuel molecule. Therefore, in mechanical mixtures, the rate of chemical reaction during explosive transformation never reaches its maximum value. Explosive chemical compounds, the molecule of which includes fuel atoms (carbon, hydrogen) and oxidizer (oxygen) atoms, do not have such a disadvantage.

Explosive chemical compounds, the molecule of which contains atoms of combustible elements and oxygen, include nitric esters of polyhydric alcohols, the so-called nitroesters, and nitro compounds of aromatic hydrocarbons.

The following nitroesters have found the widest application: glycerol nitrate (nitroglycerin) - C 3 H 3 (ONO 2) 3, pentaerythritol tetranitrate (ten) - C (CH 2 0N0 2) 4, cellulose nitrates (nitrocellulose) - [Sbѵ0 2 (OH) 3 - n (ОШ 2) n] x.

Of the nitro compounds, trinitrotoluene (trotyl) - C 6 H 2 (N0 2) 3 CH 3 and trinitrophenol (picric acid) - SSCHN02) ZOH should be mentioned first of all.

In addition to these nitro compounds, nitroamines are widely used: trinitrophenylmethylnitroamine (tetryl) - C 6 H 2 (N0 2) 3 NCH 3 N0 2, cyclotrimethylene tri-nitroamine (hexogen) - C3H 6 N 6 0 6 and cyclotetramethylene tetranitroamine (octogen) - C 4 H 8 N 8 0 8. In nitro compounds and nitroesters, all, heat or the bulk of the heat in an explosion is released as a result of the oxidation of combustible elements with oxygen.

BBs are also used, which release heat during the decomposition of molecules, the formation of which was spent on a large amount of energy. An example of such BB is lead azide - Pb (N 3) 2.

Explosives, which are chemically classified as belonging to a specific class of compounds, have some common properties.

However, within one class of chemical compounds, differences in the properties of BB can be significant, since BB is largely determined by the physical properties and structure of the substance. Therefore, it is rather difficult to classify BB according to their belonging to a certain class of chemical compounds.

A large number of explosives are known, differing in composition, nature, explosive-energy characteristics and physicomechanical properties. Explosives are classified according to the following criteria:

For practical application;

By the state of aggregation;

By composition, etc.

In terms of practical application, explosives are divided into three groups:

Initiating explosives (IVV);

Blasting explosives (BVV);

Throwing explosives (BWM).

IVV (Latin injtcere - to excite) are used to initiate (excite) the explosion of explosive charges from the explosive charge or the process of combustion of propellant charges.

IVV is characterized by high sensitivity to simple types of initial impulses (impact, friction, tilt, heating) and the ability to explode in very small quantities (hundredths, and sometimes thousandths of a gram).

IVV are called primary explosives, since they explode from simple initial impulses and are used to excite the maximum possible speed of explosive transformation (detonation velocity) of secondary explosive charges.

BVV (fr. Brisant - smashing) are used to commit a destructive action with explosive charges of ammunition and explosives.

Excitation of the detonation of the secondary explosives is carried out, as a rule, from the primary charge of the IVV, and therefore the secondary explosives are called secondary explosives.

BVV are characterized by a relatively low sensitivity to simple initial pulses, but sufficient susceptibility to an explosive pulse, have high explosive-energy characteristics and are capable of detonating at a much larger mass and dimensions of the explosive charge than IVV.

MVB - gunpowder, solid propellants. Considered separately.

According to the state of aggregation, explosives are divided into three groups:

Solid (TNT, RDX, PETN, etc.);

Liquid (nitroglycerin, nitrodiglycol, etc.);

Gaseous (mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen, etc.)

Practical application for equipping ammunition found only

solid explosives. Liquid explosives are used as components of propellants and PTT, as well as for mixed explosives of industrial importance.

In terms of composition, both BVV and IVV are divided into 2 groups:

Individual explosives, which are separate chemical compounds, for example, explosive mercury Hg (ONC) 2, TNT C 6 H 2 (W 2) 3CH3, etc .;

Mixed explosives, which are mixtures and alloys of explosive and non-explosive separately substances, for example, TNT - RDX; hegsogen - paraffin; lead azide - TNRS, etc.

Explosives are individual chemical compounds or mechanical mixtures of substances of different nature, capable of self-propagating chemical transformation under the influence of external influence (initiating impulse) with the formation of gaseous products and the release of a large amount of heat, heating them to a high temperature.

The main chemical components of explosives:

Oxidizing agent;

Fuel;

Supplements.

Oxidant - chemical compounds rich in oxygen (nitrates of ammonium, sodium, potassium, etc., the so-called nitrate - ammonium, sodium, potassium, etc.).

Fuel - chemical compounds rich in hydrogen and carbon (motor oils, diesel fuel, wood, coal, etc.).

Additives are chemical compounds that change any parameters of explosives (sensitizers, phlegmatizers, inhibitors).

Sensitizers - substances that provide a high sensitivity of explosives (abrasive substances - sand, pieces of rock, metal shavings; others, more sensitive explosives, etc.).

Phlegmatizers are substances that reduce the sensitivity of explosives (oils, paraffins, etc.) due to their heat absorbing capacity.

Inhibitors are substances that reduce the flame during the explosion of explosives (some alkali metal salts, etc.).

EXPLOSIVES. 1.1 General information on explosives

1.1 General information on explosives

Explosives are individual compounds or mixtures capable of rapid, self-propagating chemical transformation (explosion) with the formation of large quantities of gases and heat. Explosives can be solid, liquid and gaseous.

The explosion is characterized by:

High rate of chemical transformation (up to 8-9 km / s);

Exothermicity of the reaction (about 4180–7520 kJ / kg);

Formation of a large amount of gaseous products (300-1000 l / kg);

Self-propagating reaction.

Failure to meet at least one of these conditions excludes the occurrence of an explosion.

The rapid formation of large volumes of gases and the heating of the latter due to the heat of reactions to high temperatures causes the sudden development of high pressures at the site of the explosion. The energy of the compressed gaseous explosion products is the source of mechanical work in various explosive applications. In contrast to the combustion of conventional fuels, the explosive explosion reaction proceeds without the participation of atmospheric oxygen and, due to the high speeds of the process, makes it possible to obtain huge powers in a small volume.

So, the combustion of 1 kg of coal requires about 11 m 3 of air, while approximately 33440 kJ is released. Combustion (explosion) of 1 kg of RDX, occupying a volume of 0.65 liters, occurs in 0.00001 s and is accompanied by the release of 5680 kJ, which corresponds to a power of 500 million kW.

This chemical transformation is called explosive transformation (explosion). There are always two stages in it:

The first is the transformation of latent chemical energy into compressed gas energy;

The second is the expansion of the formed gaseous products, which do the work.

By the mechanism of propagation and by the rate of the chemical reaction, two types of explosive transformation are distinguished: combustion and explosion (detonation).

Combustion Is a relatively slow process. Heat transfer goes from a more heated layer in depth to a less heated layer by means of thermal conductivity. The burning rate depends on the conditions under which the chemical reaction takes place. For example, as the pressure rises, the burning rate increases. In some cases, combustion can turn into an explosion.

Explosion- a fast-moving process, proceeding at a speed of up to
9 km / s. The energy in the explosion is transferred by the resulting shock wave - a region of highly compressed matter (compression wave).

The explosion mechanism can be represented as follows. An explosive transformation, excited in the first layer of explosive by an extraneous agent, sharply compresses the second (subsequent) layer, that is, forms a shock wave in it. The latter causes an explosive transformation in this layer. Then the shock wave reaches the third layer and also excites explosive transformations in it, then the fourth, etc. In the process of propagation, the shock wave energy decreases, this is expressed in a decrease in the compression force from layer to layer. When the compression is insufficient, the explosion turns into combustion. However, another case is also possible. The energy released as a result of explosive transformation in the next layer is sufficient to compensate for the energy loss in the shock wave when passing through this layer. In this case, the explosion turns into detonation.

Detonation- a special case of an explosion proceeding with a constant velocity (the velocity of propagation of a shock wave) for a given substance. Detonation does not depend on external conditions, and its propagation velocity is an important parameter of the explosive. The type of explosive transformation of a given explosive depends on the properties of the substance and on external conditions. For example, the explosive TNT burns under normal conditions, but if it is in a closed volume, then combustion can turn into an explosion and detonation. Gunpowder burns outdoors, but if you ignite the powder dust, it can detonate. Therefore, regardless of the purpose of explosives and their sensitivity to various impulses, they should be handled carefully, with mandatory compliance with safety requirements.

Plan-synopsis "brief information about explosives, their classification, safety rules when handling them." Classification of centuries and their main properties