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Chaos025@aol.com
Sun, 12 Nov 2000 17:43:30 EST
In a message dated 11/12/00 3:00:37 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
z@gundam.com writes:
> Just so. Nitroglycerine, dynamite (which is basically
> a porous material infused nitroglycerine and occasionally
> seasoned with ammonium nitrate or cellulose nitrate),
> and all of the so-called "plastic" explosives are detonated
> by extreme pressure, usually in the form of concussion,
> not heat. They're usually triggered by a separate device,
> such as an electrically operated detonator. The "blasting
> cap" commonly used with dynamite, for example, is a
> small tube filled with mercury fulminate, which can be set
> off by a spark from either a cordite fuse or an electric spark
> plug. Cordite is a smokeless powder composed of
> nitroglycerin, guncotton, and a petroluem substance
> usually gelatinized by addition of acetone and pressed
> into cords resembling brown twine. Both Dynamite and
> Cordite were originally copyrighted brand names.
An interesting project I once worked on at the University of New Mexico was a
semiconductor "bridge" the would turn to plasma when a set current was
applied. These small IC chips (and I do mean small, with the casing the same
size and shape of a standard diode) were to be used as a replacement for
standard blasting caps in timing sensitive demolition work. It was my first
taste of semiconductor manufacturing, some 12 years ago. I have no idea if
they are in use today, but the idea was cool, the explosives we set off at
Kirkland AFB were fun, and I truly had a "blast" with the whole project.
And that was before my military days. :)
SJ
EXO Mechanical Editor & Mecha Designer
http://www.exo-armor.com
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