Table of explosive detonation velocities

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of the detonation velocities at specified (typically, the highest practical) density of various explosive compounds.

The velocity of detonation is an important indicator for overall energy or power of detonation, and in particular for the brisance or shattering effect of an explosive.

Explosive Name Abbreviation Detonation Velocity (m/s) Density (g per cm3)
Aromatic explosives
1,3,5-Triazido-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene TNB 7,300 1.71
Trinitrotoluene TNT 6,900 1.6
Trinitroaniline TNA 7,300 1.72
Tetryl 7,570 1.71
Picric Acid 7,350 1.7
Dunnite 7,150 1.6
Methyl Picrate 6,800 1.57
Ethyl Picrate 6,500 1.55
Picryl Chloride 7,200 1.74
Trinitrocresol 6,850 1.62
Lead styphnate 5,200 2.9
Triaminotrinitrobenzene TATB 7,350 1.80
Aliphatic explosives
Methyl nitrate 6,300 1.217
Nitroglycol 7,300 1.48
Nitroglycerine NG 7,600 1.59
Mannitol Hexanitrate 8,260 1.73
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate PETN 8,400 1.7
EDNA 7,570 1.65
Nitroguanidine 8,200 1.7
Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine RDX 8,750 1.76
Cyclotetramethylene Tetranitramine HMX 9,100 1.9
Tetranitroglycoluril Sorguyl 9,150 1.95
Inorganic explosives
Mercury Fulminate 4,250 3.0
Lead azide 4,630 3.0
Silver azide 4,000 4.0
Ammonium Nitrate AN 5,270 1.3

[edit] References

Cooper, Paul W., Explosives Engineering, New York: Wiley-VCH, 1996. ISBN 0-471-18636-8