This is a list of the detonation velocities at specified (typically, the highest practical) density of various explosive compounds.
The velocity of detonation is an important indicator for overall energy or power of detonation, and in particular for the brisance or shattering effect of an explosive.
| Explosive Name | Abbreviation | Detonation Velocity (m/s) |
Density (g/cm³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aromatic explosives | |||
| 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene | TNB | 7,450 | 1.6 |
| 1,3,5-Triazido-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene | TATNB | 7,300 | 1.71 |
| Trinitrotoluene | TNT | 6,900 | 1.6 |
| Trinitroaniline | TNA | 7,300 | 1.72 |
| Tetryl | 7,570 | 1.71 | |
| Picric Acid | TNP | 7,350 | 1.7 |
| Dunnite | 7,150 | 1.6 | |
| Methyl Picrate | 6,800 | 1.57 | |
| Ethyl Picrate | 6,500 | 1.55 | |
| Picryl Chloride | 7,200 | 1.74 | |
| Trinitrocresol | 6,850 | 1.62 | |
| Lead styphnate | 5,200 | 2.9 | |
| Triaminotrinitrobenzene | TATB | 7,350 | 1.80 |
| Aliphatic explosives | |||
| Methyl nitrate | 8,000 | 1.21 | |
| Nitroglycol | 8,000 | 1.48 | |
| Nitroglycerine | NG | 7,700 | 1.59 |
| Mannitol hexanitrate | 8,260 | 1.73 | |
| Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate | PETN | 8,400 | 1.7 |
| EDNA | 7,570 | 1.65 | |
| Nitroguanidine | NQ | 8,200 | 1.7 |
| Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine | RDX | 8,750 | 1.76 |
| Cyclotetramethylene Tetranitramine | HMX | 9,100 | 1.91 |
| Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane | HNIW or CL-20 | 9,400 | 2.04 |
| Tetranitroglycoluril | Sorguyl | 9,150 | 1.95 |
| Inorganic explosives | |||
| Mercury Fulminate | 4,250 | 3.0 | |
| Lead azide | 4,630 | 3.0 | |
| Silver azide | 4,000 | 4.0 | |
| Ammonium Nitrate | AN | 5,270 | 1.3 |
| Explosive Name | Abbreviation | Detonation Velocity (m/s) |
Density (g/cm³) |
References
- Cooper, Paul W., Explosives Engineering, New York: Wiley-VCH, 1996. ISBN 0-471-18636-8