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Identification of Explosives

This document discusses the identification of different types of explosives. It describes high explosives like TNT, RDX, and PETN that explode rapidly and burn smoothly. It also describes low explosives like dynamite that deflagrate rapidly with heat and light. Military, commercial, and homemade improvised explosives are examined. Methods for identifying explosives include sequential solvent extraction and testing organic and inorganic extracts using techniques like thin layer chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.

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2K views

Identification of Explosives

This document discusses the identification of different types of explosives. It describes high explosives like TNT, RDX, and PETN that explode rapidly and burn smoothly. It also describes low explosives like dynamite that deflagrate rapidly with heat and light. Military, commercial, and homemade improvised explosives are examined. Methods for identifying explosives include sequential solvent extraction and testing organic and inorganic extracts using techniques like thin layer chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.

Uploaded by

mayberrie
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Identification of Explosives

C.R. Midkiff, In Forensic Science Handbook, R. Saferstein, Ed., Prentice-Hall:Englewood C


liffs, New Jersey, 1982, 222-266.
Type of Explosives
Military
Commercial
Home-made (Improvised)

igh Explosives Low Explosives


Explode : burn rapidly but Deflagrate : burn with great heat and
smoothly. intense light (flash).

Burning rate:20,000 ft/s. Burning rate:1,200 ft/s.

No container is required. Require pressure container.

Initiated by shock with booster Initiated with a burning fuse or


charge or blasting cap. a hot wire.
gh Explosives TNT 2,6-DNT 2,4-DNT
CH3 CH3
CH3
O2N NO2 NO2
O2N NO2
roaromatics
NO2 NO2

NO2 O2N
N N NO2
H2C CH2 N
clic nitramines N N
RDX
N HMX
O2 N C NO2 O2 N N
H2
NO2

Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine Cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine

roaliphatics
CH2 CH CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2ONO2
O2NOH2C C CH2ONO2
ONO2 ONO2 ONO2 ONO2 ONO2 CH2ONO2

Nitroglycerine Ethylene glycol dinitrate Pentaerythritol tetranitrate

NG EGDN PETN
gh Explosives Military
TNT RDX PETN
CH3 NO2
O2N NO2 N CH2ONO2
H2C CH2 O2NOH2C C CH2ONO2
N N CH2ONO2
O2 N C NO2
NO2 H2
Yellow to muddy brown White powder White powder
Cast solid block, bead 90% in oil-rubber binder Flexible sheet explosives
C-4, Plastic explosives Tubular primers
“Military Dynamite” Detonating cord
Blasting cap
Ammonium
nitrate

Composition B
AMATOL
Hand grenades:
60/40 of RDX/TNT
gh Explosives Military, Commercial, Improvised
Dynamite

Dynamite type

omponent(%) Straight Ammonia Straight Gel Ammonia Gel

Nitroglycerine 39.0 16.5 32.0 26.2

Nitrocellulose - - 0.7 0.4

Ammonium Nitrate - 31.4 - 8.2

Sodium Nitrate 43.5 37.5 51.8 49.6

Sulfur - 3.6 2.2 5.6

Filler 13.8 9.2 11.2 8.0


Nitrocellulose
HO HO OH O2NO O2NO ONO2
O O
HO O OH O2NO O ONO2
O O
HO OH O2NO ONO2
OH ONO2
w Explosives Commercial, Improvised

Black powder : KNO3-C-S

PyrodexR : KClO4-C-S

Ammonium nitrate-Fuel oil(ANFO) : NH4NO3-Fuel oil

Flash powder (M-80’s, Cherry bombs):


Al powder or flakes-KClO4-C-S

Ammonium nitrate Gels :


Al powder or flakes-NH4NO3-Gelling agent
entification
1. Sequential solvent extraction
Extraction of Organic
components;
Acetone, Dichloromethane
filtered

slow evaporation

Organic extract Extracted debris


air dried

Extraction of Inorganic components;


Hot water
filtered

dried concentrated

Particulate Inorganic extract

Testing
entification

2. Testing

Organic extract:
-TLC: Silica gel/ 4:1 CHCl3:C2H4Cl2/1%DPA in EtOH

- Instrumental Analysis:
FTIR, GC, HPLC, MS, XRD

Inorganic extract:
- Instrumental Analysis:
FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDX

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