Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

ATO Course Completed > Explosive and propellants > Flashcards

Explosive and propellants Flashcards

1
Q

What components make up guncotton?

A

NC, Nitric Acid and Cotton Fibres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What was added to picric acid explosives to increase the effectiveness?

A

Tetryl as a booster for amplification

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the ingredients for greek fire?

A

Sulphur, pitch, naphtha

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the pyrotechnic groups?

A 
Illum Compositions
Smoke Compositions
Signal Compositions
Delay Compositions
Tracer Compositions
Priming Compositions
Simulators  
Pyromechanics
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the effects of pyrotechnics?

A

Heat
Light
Smoke
Noise

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is added to make pyrotechnic colours?

A 
Red- Strontium nitrate
Yellow- Sodium nitrate
Green- Barium nitrate
Orange- Calcium nitrate
Blue- Copper carbonate
White- Barium and potassium mixture
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the characteristic of primer compositions?

A
  • Easy to ignite
  • Generate high heat
  • Not burn to quickly or violently
  • Produce some solid products of combustion
  • Be compatible with the mixtures used
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe Primary Explosive?

A

A substance or mixture of substances used to initiate a detonation or a burning reaction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the types of explosive initiators?

A

Distruptive- Detonators

Igniferous- Igniters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What colour produces red smoke?

A

Strontium nitrate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does ballisite consist of?

A

Nitroclycerine, nitrocellulose, camphor (wax)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the 4 types of propellant?

A

Single Based propellant- NC
Double based propellant- NC and NG
Triple Base propellant- NC, NG and Nitro Guanadine (Picrite) - NGu or NQ
Composite based propellant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Flash receptive detonators are 1 type of explosive, what are 4 others?

A
  • Flash receptive detonators
  • Stab igniters and detonators
  • Percussion igniters
  • Hot bridge wire igniters and detonators
  • Exploding bridge wire detonators
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Give an example of some low explosives?

A
  • Gunpowder
  • Pyrotechnics
  • Propellant
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Give an example of some high explosive?

A

Tetryl, Comp B, RDX, CE, PE4, C4, PETN, TR1, HMX, TNT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the compositon of “COMP B”?

A

RDX- 59.5%
TNT- 39.5%
WAX- 1%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What purposes do additives have in high explosives?

A 
1- Decrease Sensitivity
2- Increase Sensitivity
3- Increase Moldability
4- Increase Stability
5- Increase Blast Effect
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Caps and primers contain 3 primary components what are they?

A

1- The primary explosive
2- The oxidiser
3- The sensitiser

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the purpose of a dark ignition tracer?

A
  • To avoid observation of exact location of weapon

- To avoid dazzling the gun layers at night when fired from multiple/automatic weapons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are the design requirements for illumination?

A
  • Withstand firing forces
  • Must have the correct luminosity
  • Must burn for the correct time
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the ideal properties for smoke?

A
  • Immediate in effect
  • Unaffected as far as possible by weather
  • Persistent
  • Non anti personal
  • Non incendiary
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the main use for armies using smoke?

A

Tactical Screening Smoke
-Tactical smoke, defensive smoke
Signalling

23
Q

What other metals are added to High Explosives to increase heat?

A

Magnesium and aluminum and Zirconium

24
Q

What is the definition of delay? What is it used for?

A

To provide a pyrotechnic delay between the igniting or explosive events.

25
Define propellant?
Propellants are an explosive which by controlled burning provides gas pressure required to give motion to a projectile or missile.
26
What explosive was found when they were creating RDX?
HMX
27
What are the advantages of single based propellant?
- Cooler burning, therefore less erosive - Generate considerably less flash than cordite - Ballistics less effected by change in change of temperature
28
Advantages of double based propellant?
- Easy to ignite - Higher energy rating than sinlge based - Higher flame temp - Higher burning rate
29
What additives are in propellant? SPCFADSS
SPCFADSS - Stabilizers - Plasticisers - Coolant - Surface moderants - Surface lubricants - Flash inhibitor - Decoppering agents - Antiwear additives
30
What are the main chemicals used as a De-coppering agent?
Tin and Lead
31
How is the rate of burning controlled?
Size, Shape, Composition
32
What are the different types of burning?
Progressive- Total surface area increases during burning- Rosette, Multi tubular Degressive- Total surface area decreases as the propellant burns- Cord, flake, strip/ribbon Neutral (constant)- External surface decreases at the same rate that internal surface increases during burning- Tubular, cogged, star centre
33
Name the propellant shapes that have a constant burn?
Tubular, Cogged, Star Centre, Slotted Tubular
34
What is a carbamite?
- Plastiser- Increase shelf life - Stabiliser- Moldability - Coolant- Reduce burning temp - Surface moderant- Act similar to coolants but on the outer layer
35
Explain burning to detonation
Occurs when there is an abrupt acceleration of flame which becomes a shock wave, that ignites and becomes overpressured to ignite an item.
36
What are the two types of high explosives and examples?
Primary - sensitive to heat shock or friction. Lead azide, Mercuary fulminate, lead styphlinate Secondary - less sensitive to stimuli such as heat, shock and friction. RDX, TNT,
37
What does wax do?
Binding agent/De-sensitiser
38
Incendiary compositions fall into 2 categories, what are they?
- Metals and alloys | - Combustible fluids
39
What does composite explosive mean?
CE- Tetryl- Booster
40
What are the Explosive names for the following? Cyclotrimethylenetrinitromine- TRIN Cylotetramethylenetetranitramine- TRAN
TRIN- RDX | TRAN- HMX
41
What was the historical composition of gunpowder?
Saltpeter- 7 parts Sulphur- 5 parts Charcoal- 5 Parts
42
What century was saltpeter refined?
14th Century
43
Define HE?
Any explosive which once initiated decomposes almost instantaneously into its original molecular structure by the passage of a detonation wave through it, subsequently production of heat and gases and liberation of great energy.
44
What is the purpose of delay Compositions?
To provide a pyrotechnic delay between two igniting or explosive events. Pyrotechnic delays are trains of composition, which burn in cigarette fashion from one end to the other.
45
2 Categories of propellants? and sub categories
Liquid Propellant- Mono propellant, bi-propellant | Solid Propellant- Colloidal, Composite
46
What are the velocities of detonation for the following? ``` TNT CE PENT RDX ANFO COMP B ```
``` TNT- 6950 m/s CE- 7500 m/s PENT- 8300 m/s RDX- 8450 m/s ANFO- 1100-2700 m/s COMP B- 7800 m/s ```
47
Factors effecting V of D?
- Density of the charge - Charge diameter - Degree of confinement - Strength of detonator
48
What is the purpose of additives used in HE?
``` Increase sensitivity Increase blast effect Improve stability Improve mouldability Decrease sensitivity ```
49
Definition of a pyrotechnic?
A material capable of combustion when correctly initiated to produce a special effect.
50
Define Detonation
An extremely rapid chemical change with the evolution of heat and gas, accompanied by a violent disruptive effect and intense blast.
51
Two types of explosives?
High explosives- TNT, RDX, COMP B | Low Explosives- Propellant, tetryl, ignitors
52
Define low explosive?
An explosive substance, which decomposes rapidly through combustion with the evolution of heat and flash and generates large quantity of gaseous products.
53
Define deflagration?
Describes subsonic combustion that usually propagates through thermal conductivity.
54
Define igniter compositions?
A composition that produces hot flames, usually accompanied by sparks and hot gases, for relatively short times.

ATO Course Completed (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions