Semtex

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Semtex is also a taurine-containing energy drink manufactured in the Czech Republic.

DJ Semtex is also a BBC hip-hop disc jockey and producer from the UK.

Semtex Magazine is also an online indie/hc/punk magazine from Belgium.

Semtex is a general-purpose plastic explosive. First made by the Semtin Glassworks (then called VCHZ Synthesia, now called Explosia) in Semtín (a suburb of Pardubice) in the former Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), it is used in commercial blasting, demolition and in certain military applications. Semtex became notoriously popular with terrorists because it was, until recently, extremely difficult to detect and easily obtained. It is also very effective for air terrorism: as little as 250g could destroy a commercial passenger airplane [1], as in the case of Pan Am Flight 103 [2].

[edit] Composition, Manufacture & Use

There are two common varieties, A for blasting and H (or SE) for hardening:

	Semtex H	Semtex A
PETN	49.8 %	94.3 %
RDX	50.2 %	5.7 %
Dye	Sudan I (red-orange)	Sudan IV (reddish brown)
Antioxidant	N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine	same
Plasticizer	di-n-octyl phthalate, tri-n-butyl citrate	same
Binder	styrene-butadiene rubber	same

The explosive is named after Semtín, a suburb of Pardubice in eastern Bohemia where the compound was first manufactured. It was invented in 1966 by Stanislav Brebera, a chemist at VCHZ Synthesia. It was like other plastic explosives, especially C-4, in that it was easily malleable; but it was usable over a greater temperature range than other types.

The new explosive was widely exported, notably to the government of North Vietnam, which received over 12 tonnes. However, the main consumer was Libya; about 700 tonnes of Semtex were exported to Libya between 1975 and 1981 by Omnipol. It has also been used by Islamic militants in the Middle East and by republican paramilitaries such as the IRA and INLA in Northern Ireland.

Exports fell after the name became closely associated with terrorist blasts and as of 2001 only around 10 tonnes of Semtex was produced annually, almost all for domestic use. Export of Semtex was progressively tightened and from 2002 all of Explosia's sales were controlled by a government ministry.

Also in response to international pressure, Semtex has ethylene glycol dinitrate added as a detection taggant to produce a distinctive vapor signature to aid detection. Efforts have also been made to reduce the shelf life of Semtex from its current 20 years to three or even less but have proved difficult, and all new supplies contain an identifying metallic code.

On May 25, 1997 Bohumil Sole, a scientist involved with inventing Semtex, strapped the explosive to his body and committed suicide in the Priessnitz spa of Jesenik. Sole, 63, was treated there for depression. Twenty other people were hurt in the explosion, six seriously.

Semtex is now manufactured in Brno, Czech Republic.

[edit] References in Popular Culture

Semtex appears in Konami's PlayStation 2 video game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Semtex is mentioned in the Infadels song, 'Love Like Semtex'. The term Semtex is relatively unknown outside of Britain and its use caused considerable confusion. [3]

Semtex is mentioned in the song "What God Wants" from the album "Amused to Death" by Roger Waters.

Semtex appears in the film Blade II.

Semtex is also used in the TV show CSI episode "Grave Danger" as an explosive.

Semtex is used by a lebanese militia to kill an enemy sheik in the film Spy Game.

Semtex was the material used to secure the bank in the film Inside Man. This was disclosed in a demand note.

In Running Scared a corrupt police officer was killed with an ounce of semtex hidden in a Nokia cellphone. The explosion was powerful enough to destroy the entire lavatory where the scene took place.

In the comic book "The Punisher," Frank Castle makes many references to semtex and its uses.