Explosives And Propellants Flashcards
What is Greek fire made up of?
Naphtha, sulfur and pitch
What does ballistite consist of?
Camphor (wax)
NG
Collodion (NC)
What does Cordite consist of?
NG
Guncotton (NC)
Petroleum jelly
What are the two types of explosive initiators?
Detonators and igniters
What does ASA consist of?
Lead azide - 68%
Lead stuphnate - 29%
Aluminium powder - 3%
What are the required characteristics of Primary explosives?
Stability over long storage periods. Optimum senstitivity to applied stimulus. Optimum output of the required kind Comparability with materials Safety in loading and handling
Definition of low explosives
An explosive substance which decomposes rapidly through combustion with the evolution of heat and flash, and generates a large quantity of gaseous products
What does gun powder consist of?
7 parts saltpetre
5 parts hazel twig
5 parts sulphur
4 types of smokeless powder
Single, double, triple based propellants and composite
What are the types of pyrotechnics?
Illum Smoke Signal Delay Tracer Incendiary Priming Simulator Pyromechanisms
What makes the color red?
Strontium nitrate
What makes the color yellow?
Sodium nitrate
What makes the color green?
Barium Nitrate
What makes the color blue?
Copper carbonate, chloride, oxychloride
Characteristics of priming compositions
Not burn too quickly or violently Generate a large amount of heat Be compatable with the mixture Produce some solids of combustion Not be unduly sensitive to impact or shock
Types on initiators
Flash receptive initators Stab igniters and detonators Percussion igniters Conducting composition igniters and detonators Hot bridge wire igniters and detonators Exploding bridge wire detonators Pyrotechnic igniters
The 5 purposes of additives in explosives
Increase sensitivity Improve stability Increase blast effects Improve mold ability Decrease sensitivity
What are the essential ingredients in caps?
Primary explosive
Sensitizer
Oxidizer
What is dark ignition?
To avoid observation of exact location of the gun
To avoid dazzling the gun layers at night
What are the design requirements for illum compositions?
Must burn for the correct time
Must have the correct luminosity
Withstand the firing forces
Ideal properties for smoke compositions
Persistent
Non anti personal
Immediate in effect
Non incendiary
What are the two groups of incendiary material?
Metals and alloys
Combustible liquids
What is the definition of propellant?
An explosive which by controlled burning provides the gas pressure required to give motion to a projectile or missile
What are the advantages of single based propellants?
Cooler burning
Considerably less flash than cordite
Ballistics less effected by change in temp
What are the 3 burning rates of propellant?
Degressive burning
Neutral burning
Progressive burning
What are some additives used in propellants?
Coolant Stabilizer Plasticiser Moderant Flash inhibitor De coppering agent Anti wear additive
Describe primary explosive
A substance or mixture of substances used to initiate a detonation or a burning reaction
