Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
Explosion Features of Liquid Explosive
Materials
As everyone knows that the explosion characteristics of explosive materials have
close relationship with their packed density and structures. Liquid explosive
materials are noncompressible. One of the notable characteristics is that its excellent
detonation is not in
uenced by its phase, shape, and geophysical environment. Its
application is much broader than the condensed explosive materials. When a liquid
explosive material explodes in unlimited free spaces, though the super pressure is
lower than that of condensed explosive materials, the shock pulse is broader and
positive action lasts longer. Its performance is better. Especially in semicon
fl
ned
spaces, a liquid explosive material releases gas materials and the nearby oxygen
(gas) also takes part in the detonation reaction. This oxygen absorption reaction is
an excellent characteristic, which is not indicated by general condensed explosive
materials. Liquid explosive materials follow the explosion factors, and have their
special detonation reactions, which are different from the general explosive mate-
rials. The detonation processes have close relationship with their low-pressure
denotation. This chapter studies the detonation mechanism of liquid explosive
materials, and discusses their explosion characters, lets detonation characteristics
understood, and supplies technical support for the applications.
2.1 Explosion Phenomena and Key Factors of Liquid
Explosive Materials
Explosion is a phenomenon of physical or chemical changes within extreme short
time. In the changing processes, the energy inside the explosive materials changes
from one form to another, such as from reactant to production, or from chemical
energy to the compression energy or kinetic energy of their media. One of the key
features is that huge amount of energy is released or transformed within certain
space. The energy accumulation within extreme time and limited space leads to a
high-temperature and high-pressure condition. This nontraditional environment
with rapid pressure rise followed complex movement resulting in abnormal shift or
mechanical damage. The most external/obvious feature of explosions is that the
media give the audible effect after a shake. In general, explosion has two stages.
