Nitroglycerin: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:14, 7 November 2003

Revision as of 17:13, 9 November 2003

Line 8:

In its pure form, it is shock-sensitive (i.e., physical shock can cause it to explode) and degrades over time to even more unstable forms. This makes it highly dangerous to transport or use in its pure form.

Early in the history of this explosive it was discovered that liquid nitroglycerin can be "desensitized" by cooling to 40–50 °F, at which temperature it freezes, contracting upon solidification. However, later thawing can be extremely sensitizing, especially if impurities are present or if warming is too rapid. It is possible to chemically "desensitize" nitroglycerin to a point where it can be considered approximately as "safe" as modern High Explosive formulations, by the addition of apporoximatelyapproximately 10%–30% ethanol, acetone, or dinitrotoluene (percentage varys with the desensitizing agent used). Desensitization requires extra effort to reconstitute the "pure" product. Failing this, it must be assumed that desensitized nitroglycerine is substantially more difficult to detonate, possibly rendering it useless as an explosive for practical application.

== What is detonation? ==