Improvised Munitions Handbook (Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs)

# Appendix 2
Secondary High Explosives

### A2.1 TNT

Description
  TNT (Trinitrotoluene) is produced from toluene, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid. It is a powerful high explosive. It is well suited for steel cutting, concrete breaching, general demolition, and for under water demolition. It is a stable explosive and is relatively insensitive to shock. It may be detonated with a blasting cap or by primacord. TNT is issued in 1-pound and 1/2-pound containers and 50-pounds to a wooden box.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective. TNT is toxic and its dust should not be inhaled or allowed to contact the skin.
References
  TM 9-1900, Ammunition, General, page 263.
  FM 5-25, Explosives and Demolitions, page 3.

### A2.2 Nitrostarch

Description
  Nitrostarch is composed of starch nitrate, barium nitrate, and sodium nitrate. It is more sensitive to flame, friction, and impact than TNT but is less powerful. It is initiated by detonating cord. Nitrostarch is issued in 1-pound and 1-1/2-pound blocks. The 1-pound packages can be broken into 1/4-pound blocks. Fifty 1-pound packages and one hundred 1-1/2-pound packages are packed in boxes.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
Reference
  TM 9-1900, Ammunition, General, page 263.

### A2.3 Tetryl

Description
  Tetryl is a fine, yellow, crystalline material and exhibits a very high shattering power. It is commonly used as a booster in explosive trains. It is stable in storage. Tetryl is used in detonators. It is pressed into the bottom of the detonator housing and covered with a small priming charge of mercury fulminate or lead azide.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
References
  TM 9-1900, Ammunition, General, page 52.
  TM 31-201-1, Unconventional Warfare Devices and Techniques, para 1509.

### A2.4 RDX

Description
  RDX (cyclonite) is a white crystalline solid that exhibits very high shattering power. It is commonly used as a booster in explosive trains or as a main bursting charge. It is stable in storage, and when combined with proper additives, may be cast or press loaded. It may be initiated by lead azide or mercury fulminate.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
References
  TM 9-1900, Ammunition, General, page 52.
  TM 31-201-1, Unconventional Warfare Devices and Techniques, para 1501.

### A2.5 Nitroglycerin

Description
  Nitroglycerin is manufactured by treating glycerin with a nitrating mixture of nitric and sulfuric acid. It is a thick, clear to yellow-brownish liquid that is an extremely powerful and shock-sensitive high explosive. Nitroglycerin freezes at 56°F, in which state it is less sensitive to shock than in liquid form.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
References
  TM 9-1910, Military Explosives, page 123.
  TM 31-201-1, Unconventional Warfare Devices and Techniques, para 1502.

### A2.6 Commercial Dynamite

Description
  There are three principal types of commercial dynamite: straight dynamite, ammonia dynamite, and gelatin dynamite. Each type is further subdivided into a series of grades. All dynamites contain nitroglycerin in varying amounts and the strength or force of the explosive is related to the nitroglycerin content. Dynamites range in velocity of detonation from about 4000 to 23,000 feet per second and are sensitive to shock. The types and grades of dynamite are each used for specific purposes such as rock blasting or underground explosives. Dynamite is initiated by electric or nonelectric blasting caps. Although dynamites are furnished in a wide variety of packages, the most common unit is the 1/2 pound cartridge. Fifty pounds is the maximum weight per case.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
References
  TM 9-1900, Ammunition, General, page 265.
  FM 5-25, Explosives and Demolitions, page 8.

### A2.7 Military Dynamite

Description
  Military (construction) dynamite, unlike commercial dynamite, does not absorb or retain moisture, contains no nitroglycerin, and is much safer to store, handle, and transport. It comes in standard sticks 1-1/4 inches in diameter by 8 inches long, weighing approximately 1/2 pound. It detonates at a velocity of about 20,000 feet per second and is very satisfactory for military construction, quarrying, and demolition work. It may be detonated with an electric or nonelectric military blasting cap or detonating cord.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
References
  FM 5-25, Explosives and Demolitions, page 7.
  TM 9-1910, Military Explosives, page 204.

### A2.8 Amatol

Description
  Amatol is a high explosive, white to buff in color. It is a mixture of ammonium nitrate and TNT, with a relative effectiveness slightly higher than that of TNT alone. Common compositions vary from 80% ammonium nitrate and 20% TNT to 40% ammonium nitrate and 60% TNT. Amatol is used as the main bursting charge in artillery shell and bombs. Amatol absorbs moisture and can form dangerous compounds with copper and brass. Therefore it should not be housed in containers of such metals.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
References
  FM 5-25, Explosives and Demolitions, page 7.
  TM 9-1910, Military Explosives, page 182.

### A2.9 PETN

Description
  PETN (pentaerythrite tetranitrate), the high explosive used in detonating cord, is one of the most powerful of military explosives, almost equal in force to nitroglycerin and RDX. When used in detonating cord, it has a detonation velocity of 21,000 feet per second and is relatively insensitive to friction and shock from handling and transportation.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
References
  FM 5-25, Explosives and Demolitions, page 7.
  TM 9-1910, Military Explosives, page 135.
  TM 31-201-1, Unconventional Warfare Devices and Techniques, para 1508.

### A2.10 Blasting Gelatin

Description
  Blasting gelatin is a translucent material of an elastic, jellylike texture and is manufactured in a number of different colors. It is considered to be the most powerful industrial explosive. Its characteristics are similar to those of gelatin dynamite except that blasting gelatin is more water resistant.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
References
  TM 9-1910, Military Explosives, page 204.

### A2.11 Composition B

Description
  Composition B is a high-explosive mixture with a relative effectiveness higher than that of TNT. It is also more sensitive than TNT. It is composed of RDX (59%), TNT (40%), and wax (1%). Because of its shattering power and high rate of detonation, Composition B is used as the main charge in certain models of bangalore torpedoes and shaped charges.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
References
  FM 5-25, Explosives and Demolitions, page 7.
  TM 9-1900, Ammunition, General, page 57.
  TM 9-1910, Military Explosives, page 193.

### A2.12 Composition C4

Description
  Composition C4 is a white plastic high explosive more powerful than TNT. It consists of 91% RDX and 9% plastic binder. It remains plastic over a wide range of temperatures (-70°F to 170°F), and is about as sensitive as TNT. It is eroded less than other plastic explosives when immersed under water for long periods. Because of its high detonation velocity and its plasticity, C4 is well suited for cutting steel and timber and for breaching concrete.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
Reference
  TM 9-1910, Military Explosives, page 204.

### A2.13 Ammonium Nitrate

Description
  Ammonium nitrate is a white crystalline substance that is extremely water absorbent and is therefore usually packed in a sealed metal container. It has a low velocity of detonation (3600 feet per second or 1100 meters per second) and is used primarily as an additive in other explosive compounds. When it is used alone, it must be initiated by a powerful booster or primer. It is only 55% as powerful as TNT, hence larger quantities are required to produce similar results.
Comments
  This material was tested. It is effective.
  Caution: Never use copper or brass containers because ammonium nitrate reacts with these metals.
References
  TM 9-1900, Ammunition, General, page 264.
  TM 9-1910, Military Explosives, page 119.