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- @X083@X05.@X0801 @X03 EXPLOSIVE THEORY
-
- @X08An explosive is any material that@X05,@X08 when ignited by heat or shock@X05,@X08
- undergoes rapid decomposition or oxidation@X05.@X08 This process releases energy that
- is stored in the material in the form of heat and light@X05,@X08 or by breaking down
- into gaseous compounds that occupy a much larger volume that the original piece
- of material@X05.@X08 Because this expansion is very rapid@X05,@X08 large volumes of air are
- displaced by the expanding gasses@X05.@X08 This expansion occurs at a speed greater
- than the speed of sound@X05,@X08 and so a sonic boom occurs@X05.@X08 This explains the
- mechanics behind an explosion@X05.@X08 Explosives occur in several forms@X05:@X08 high@X05-@X08order
- explosives which detonate@X05,@X08 low order explosives@X05,@X08 which burn@X05,@X08 and primers@X05,@X08 which
- may do both@X05.@X08
-
- High order explosives detonate@X05.@X08 A detonation occurs only in a high
- order explosive@X05.@X08 Detonations are usually incurred by a shockwave that passes
- through a block of the high explosive material@X05.@X08 The shockwave breaks apart
- the molecular bonds between the atoms of the substance@X05,@X08 at a rate approximately
- equal to the speed of sound traveling through that material@X05.@X08 In a high
- explosive@X05,@X08 the fuel and oxodizer are chemically bonded@X05,@X08 and the shockwave breaks
- apart these bonds@X05,@X08 and re@X05-@X08combines the two materials to produce mostly gasses@X05.@X08
- T@X05.@X08N@X05.@X08T@X05.@X08@X05,@X08 ammonium nitrate@X05,@X08 and R@X05.@X08D@X05.@X08X@X05.@X08 are examples of high order explosives@X05.@X08
-
- Low order explosives do not detonate@X05;@X08 they burn@X05,@X08 or undergo oxidation@X05.@X08
- when heated@X05,@X08 the fuel@X05(@X08s@X05)@X08 and oxodizer@X05(@X08s@X05)@X08 combine to produce heat@X05,@X08 light@X05,@X08 and
- gaseous products@X05.@X08 Some low order materials burn at about the same speed under
- pressure as they do in the open@X05,@X08 such as blackpowder@X05.@X08 Others@X05,@X08 such as gunpowder@X05,@X08
- which is correctly called nitrocellulose@X05,@X08 burn much faster and hotter when they
- are in a confined space@X05,@X08 such as the barrel of a firearm@X05;@X08 they usually burn
- much slower than blackpowder when they are ignited in unpressurized conditions@X05.@X08
- Black powder@X05,@X08 nitrocellulose@X05,@X08 and flash powder are good examples of low order
- explosives@X05.@X08
-
- Primers are peculiarities to the explosive field@X05.@X08 Some of them@X05,@X08 such as
- mercury filminate@X05,@X08 will function as a low or high order explosive@X05.@X08 They are
- usually more sensitive to friction@X05,@X08 heat@X05,@X08 or shock@X05,@X08 than the high or low
- explosives@X05.@X08 Most primers perform like a high order explosive@X05,@X08 except that they
- are much more sensitive@X05.@X08 Still others merely burn@X05,@X08 but when they are confined@X05,@X08
- they burn at a great rate and with a large expansion of gasses and a shockwave@X05.@X08
- Primers are usually used in a small amount to initiate@X05,@X08 or cause to decompose@X05,@X08
- a high order explosive@X05,@X08 as in an artillery shell@X05.@X08 But@X05,@X08 they are also frequently
- used to ignite a low order explosive@X05;@X08 the gunpowder in a bullet is ignited by
- the detonation of its primer@X05.@X08
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