answersLogoWhite

0

C-4 (composition 4) is one of the popular plastic explosive(explosive chemical mix with plastic binder). It has 2 important advantages:

  1. The explosive material which coated with plastic binder will make it less sensitive to heat and shock. Since it is stabilized, it is relatively safe to handle C-4. Only detonator or blasting cap can trigger the reaction. Lighting the C-4 with a match will just make it burn slowly, like a piece of wood. (In Vietnam, soldiers actually burn C-4 as an improvised cooking fire.) Even shooting the explosive with rifle won't trigger the reaction.
  2. C-4 material is highly flexible. It can be molded into different shapes to change the direction of the explosion.

Explosive material in C-4 is cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (royal demolition explosive / RDX). Cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine was first prepared in 1899 from nitric acid and methenamine by Henning. The flow chart below (PLease refer to reference below) shows the synthesis method uses methenamine (hexamethylenetetramine).

Besides the method above, cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine can also be synthesized from formaldehyde, ammonium nitrate and acetic anhydride. (Method developed by Ross and Schiessler' in 1940's)

Normally, C-4 is made up of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer and, usually, marker or taggant chemicals such as 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMDNB) to help detect the explosive and identify its source. In 2004, Kenneth E. Lee discovered a reformulation of composition C-4 explosive for superior energetic performance and flexibility. (US Patent: 6887324)

Reference:

How C-4 explosive is made. Life Chemistry. Retrieved June 30, 2008, from http://life-chemistry.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-c-4-explosive-is-made.HTML

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What types of valcanoes would be the most explosive?

Volcanoes with more viscosity are more explosive.


Is hydrogen more explosive than gasoline?

Yes, hydrogen is more explosive than gasoline.


Does water vapor affect how explosive a volcano is?

Yes. More gas trapped in magma leads to a more explosive eruption. Water vapor is the most abundant gas in magma.


Which is the more suitable metal for hammer in explosive environment?

brass


Why does ash cinders and bombs only produced during explosive eruptions from a volcano?

It requires an explosive force to hurl and fragment the molten rock like that. Non explosive eruptions extrude rock more "gently".


Is Colima volcano explosive or non-explosive?

It is explosive (it is a stratovolcano). In a worst-case scenario, more than 400,000 people would have to be evacuated from the proximity of the volcano: up to 30 km / 19 mi from the cone.


What is explosive efficiency?

Explosive efficiency refers to the effectiveness of an explosive material in converting stored energy into a high-energy blast or shock wave when detonated. It is typically measured by the amount of work done per unit mass of explosive used. A more efficient explosive will produce a greater output of energy per unit of input.


Is nitromethane more explosive than gasoline?

Yes, nitromethane is more explosive than gasoline. Nitromethane has a higher energy density and burns more quickly, making it a popular choice in drag racing and other high-performance applications. However, nitromethane is also more unstable and requires special handling and precautions due to its highly explosive nature.


Does low silica magma cause explosive volcanic eruptions?

Not usually. Explosive eruptions are more often to magma with high or moderate silica levels.


Was Krakatoa in 1883 more explosive than Mt St Helen's in 1980?

Yes, far more explosive. The eruption of Krakatoa was more than 10 times larger than the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens.


If the water content of magma is high?

an explosive eruption is more likely.


Is gasoline more explosive than gas?

In general gasoline is not more explosive then gas although it depends on the conditions and the gas. Probably you are referring to natural gas, the gas piped into homes which is predominantly methane. In general flammable gasses are more explosive than flammable liquids because they are mixed up with atmospheric oxygen. This is why modern cars have fuel injection which sprays the petrol to make it more easily combustible. In fact liquid petrol is not explosive at all but because it is volatile a layer of vapour forms above the surface of the liquid which is explosive. The mix of fuel and oxygen is the critical factor in whether something is explosive. Some gases, such as the noble gases are not flammable at all.