Chemistry Of Powder And Explosives

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Chemistry Of Powder And Explosives
Introduction
An explosive can be defined as a chemical compound that can be ignited by friction, heat, shock or impact when detonated to release rapid heat and pressurised gas. The energy released by the gases causes rock displacement, rock fragmentation, ground vibration and massive air blast. Thexplosivs theory states that detonation usually produces a high-velocity vibration and shock waves which in turn causes cracks in rocks. The common properties of explosives include: they are exothermic, spontaneous, produces heat and once initiated, they sustain the process on their own. Explosives are referred as energetic materials used to be known as black powder or gun powder (Thompson, 1940). At the onset of development of explosives, black powder was used in mines, drilling boreholes, propellants, military explosives and guns. This research will examine briefly the chemistry behind explosives.
Background and theoritical framework
The contents of explosives are classified as:
Explosive-bases- This is a liquid or solid compound that breaks down rapidly into gaseous products and heat energy upon application of shock or heat.An example of such a compound is Nitroglycerine(Burtsell, 1943)..
Combustibles – These are compounds that combine with vast excess of oxygen to attain an oxygen balance and inhibit the formation of toxic nitrous oxide fumes and lower heat (Thompson, 1940).
Oxygen carriers – the oxygen carriers ensure that there is complete carbon oxidation in the explosion thereby minimizing the formation of carbon monoxide. The oxygen carriers prevent the lowering of exploding temperature that means there will be a low efficient blasting (Burtsell, 1943).
Antacids – they are usually added to the explosive to increase the long-term storage life and