Minol (explosive)
Encyclopedia
Minol is a military explosive developed by the Admiralty
early in the Second World War to augment supplies of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and RDX
, which were then in short supply. The aluminium
component in Minol significantly prolongs the explosive pulse, making it ideal for use in underwater naval weapons (e.g. sea mines - for which it was developed - depth charge
s and torpedo
es) where munitions with a longer explosive pulse are more destructive than those with high-brisance
.
Minol must not be used in weapons fired from gun barrels (e.g. artillery shells) because there is a risk of detonation
when subjected to over 250 gs
of acceleration.
Typically, four different Minol formulas were used. All percentages shown are by weight:
Since the 1950s, Minol has gradually been superseded by more modern PBX compositions, due to their superior explosive yield and stable storage characteristics. As a result, Minol is regarded as obsolete. Generally, any Minol-filled munitions encountered will be in the form of legacy munitions or unexploded ordnance
dating pre-1960s.
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
early in the Second World War to augment supplies of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and RDX
RDX
RDX, an initialism for Research Department Explosive, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. It was developed as an explosive which was more powerful than TNT, and it saw wide use in WWII. RDX is also known as cyclonite, hexogen , and T4...
, which were then in short supply. The aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
component in Minol significantly prolongs the explosive pulse, making it ideal for use in underwater naval weapons (e.g. sea mines - for which it was developed - depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s and torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es) where munitions with a longer explosive pulse are more destructive than those with high-brisance
Brisance
Brisance is the shattering capability of an explosive. It is a measure of the rapidity with which an explosive develops its maximum pressure. The term originates from the French verb "briser", which means to break or shatter...
.
Minol must not be used in weapons fired from gun barrels (e.g. artillery shells) because there is a risk of detonation
Detonation
Detonation involves a supersonic exothermic front accelerating through a medium that eventually drives a shock front propagating directly in front of it. Detonations are observed in both conventional solid and liquid explosives, as well as in reactive gases...
when subjected to over 250 gs
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
of acceleration.
Typically, four different Minol formulas were used. All percentages shown are by weight:
- Minol-1: 48% TNT, 42% ammonium nitrate and 10% powdered aluminiumAluminiumAluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
. - Minol-2: 40% TNT, 40% ammonium nitrate and 20% powdered aluminium.
- Minol-3: 42% TNT, 38% ammonium nitrate and 20% powdered aluminium.
- Minol-4: 40% TNT, 40 % ammonium nitrate & potassium nitratePotassium nitratePotassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrate ions NO3−.It occurs as a mineral niter and is a natural solid source of nitrogen. Its common names include saltpetre , from medieval Latin sal petræ: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt...
(90/10) and 20% powdered aluminium.
Since the 1950s, Minol has gradually been superseded by more modern PBX compositions, due to their superior explosive yield and stable storage characteristics. As a result, Minol is regarded as obsolete. Generally, any Minol-filled munitions encountered will be in the form of legacy munitions or unexploded ordnance
Unexploded ordnance
Unexploded ordnance are explosive weapons that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, potentially many decades after they were used or discarded.While "UXO" is widely and informally used, munitions and explosives of...
dating pre-1960s.