Effect of Physical and Chemical Properties of Explosive Materials on the Conditions of their Use

Abstract

The components of the most common explosive ordnance in Eastern Europe have been analysed. The most dangerous explosive materials that rescuers may encounter when disposing explosive ordnance and clearing territories from mines have been identified. Such hazardous materials include tetryl, texogen, trinitrotoluolol, mercury fulminate, lead azide, lead trinitroresorcinate. An analysis of the chemical structure and physical and chemical properties of such materials has been carried out. It has been established that explosive materials can be divided into two classes with similar values based on such parameters as detonation velocity, volume of explosion products, and explosion heat. It has been established that the chemical structure of their molecules corresponds to the said two classes of physical and chemical properties. The first class includes materials based on hydrocarbons, the second includes materials based on heavy metals. It has been established that the specific volume values for the second class materials increase significantly, and exceed the indicators for the first class materials. This is due to the difference in the density of such materials by 2 to 4 times. The established features of the physical and chemical and explosive parameters of explosive materials can be used in the development of standard operating procedures and plans of actions of rescuers in order to increase the safety of handling the explosive ordnance.