Water gel explosive
Encyclopedia
A water-gel is a fuel sensitized explosive mixture
that consisting of an aqueous ammonium nitrate solution that acts as the oxidizer. Water gels that are cap-insensitive are not strictly explosives and are referred to as blasting agents.
Tovex
is an example of a water gel explosive.
, guar gum
, dextran gums, urea-formaldehyde
resins are the typical gelling agents.
ous than dynamite
to manufacture, transport, and store. Water gels are also less expensive compared to conventional explosives.
They are frequently used as cartridge
explosives because they are much easier to load into large casings. With water gel explosives, filling a bomb
is merely a matter of pouring the material into the casing. Traditionally explosives are ordinarily cast
into the casing. This process is laborious and the charge may begin to shrink creating multiple voids. A final advantage of slurry is that it can be stored in non-explosive component form and sensitized into field-manufactured explosive as it is needed. The explosive may be sensitized by the addition of gas, metal powder, or another explosive such as TNT, RDX
, HMX
, or PETN
. The water in water-gel explosives is converted into a reactant by the addition of large amount of aluminum. Water-gel explosives represent the majority of the blasting agents used in the commercial market and have almost completely displaced dynamite
.
Mixture
In chemistry, a mixture is a material system made up by two or more different substances which are mixed together but are not combined chemically...
that consisting of an aqueous ammonium nitrate solution that acts as the oxidizer. Water gels that are cap-insensitive are not strictly explosives and are referred to as blasting agents.
Tovex
Tovex
Tovex is a water-gel explosive composed of ammonium nitrate and methylammonium nitrate that has several advantages over traditional dynamite, including lower toxicity and safer manufacture, transport, and storage...
is an example of a water gel explosive.
Composition
Water gels contain a gelatinizing agent, also known as a thickener, that modifies their consistency, ranging from easily pourable gels to hard solids. Polyvinyl alcoholPolyvinyl alcohol
Polyvinyl alcohol is a water-soluble synthetic polymer .-Properties:...
, guar gum
Guar gum
Guar gum, also called guaran, is a galactomannan. It is primarily the ground endosperm of guar beans. The guar seeds are dehusked, milled and screened to obtain the guar gum. It is typically produced as a free-flowing, pale, off-white-colored, coarse to fine ground powder.-Production:Guar gum is an...
, dextran gums, urea-formaldehyde
Urea-formaldehyde
Urea-formaldehyde, also known as urea-methanal, named so for its common synthesis pathway and overall structure, is a non-transparent thermosetting resin or plastic, made from urea and formaldehyde heated in the presence of a mild base such as ammonia or pyridine...
resins are the typical gelling agents.
Advantages and uses
They tend to be less toxic and are less hazardHazard
A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment. Most hazards are dormant or potential, with only a theoretical risk of harm; however, once a hazard becomes "active", it can create an emergency situation. A hazard does not exist when it is not...
ous than dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
to manufacture, transport, and store. Water gels are also less expensive compared to conventional explosives.
They are frequently used as cartridge
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
explosives because they are much easier to load into large casings. With water gel explosives, filling a bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
is merely a matter of pouring the material into the casing. Traditionally explosives are ordinarily cast
Casting
In metalworking, casting involves pouring liquid metal into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowing it to cool and solidify. The solidified part is also known as a casting, which is ejected or broken out of the mold to complete the process...
into the casing. This process is laborious and the charge may begin to shrink creating multiple voids. A final advantage of slurry is that it can be stored in non-explosive component form and sensitized into field-manufactured explosive as it is needed. The explosive may be sensitized by the addition of gas, metal powder, or another explosive such as TNT, 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...
, HMX
HMX
HMX, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive nitroamine high explosive, chemically related to RDX. Like RDX, the name has been variously listed as High Melting eXplosive, Her Majesty's eXplosive, High-velocity Military eXplosive, or High-Molecular-weight rdX.The molecular...
, or PETN
PETN
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate , also known as PENT, PENTA, TEN, corpent, penthrite , is the nitrate ester of pentaerythritol. Penta refers to the five carbon atoms of the neopentane skeleton.PETN is most well known as an explosive...
. The water in water-gel explosives is converted into a reactant by the addition of large amount of aluminum. Water-gel explosives represent the majority of the blasting agents used in the commercial market and have almost completely displaced dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
.