Dense Inert Metal Explosive

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Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME) is an experimental type of explosive that has a relatively small but effective blast radius. It is intended to be used in urban areas. The phrase 'inert metal' refers to the metal's non-involvement in producing the blast (as opposed to, for example using, aluminium powder to increase blast strength), rather than the metal being chemically or biologically inert.

The explosive casing is made of carbon fibre which disintegrates upon detonation (vs. the shrapnel which results from the fragmentation of a metal casing). The explosive fill is mixed with a very dense powder of a heavy metal tungsten alloy (HMTA) such as cobalt and nickel or iron. The HMTA powder acts a micro-shrapnel which is very lethal at close range (~4 meters or 12 feet), but loses momentum very quickly due to air resistance. The downward-facing direction of the blast means that survivors close to the lethal zone may have their legs amputated (slicing through bone and soft tissue) and can subsequently contract cancer (rhabdomyosarcoma) from the HMTA micro-shrapnel embedded in their body tissue.^[1]

Although the relatively small radius of destruction reduces the area over which casualties may occur, the increased lethality close to the point of explosion and use in urban areas may actually increase the number of unintended casualties (so- called "collateral damage"). In addition to this the toxic/carcinogenic effects of the HMTA may cause increased deaths in those who survive the initial blast or in people who inhale the dust.

The carcinogenic effects of heavy metal tungsten alloys (HMTA) have been studied by the U.S. Armed Forces since at least 2000 (along with depleted uranium (DU)). These alloys were found to cause neoplastic transformations of human osteoblast cells^[2]:

Two common HMTA alloys

rWNiCo: tungsten (91-93%), nickel (3-5%) and cobalt (2-4%)
rWNiFe: tungsten (91-93%), nickel (3-5%) and iron (2-4%)

A more recent U.S. Department of Health study in 2005 found that HMTA shrapnel rapidly induces rhabdomyosarcoma cancers in rats.^[3]

As reported in French national newspaper Le Monde, according to a team of journalists from the Italian State radio-television RAI, DIME-type bombs were being used in the Gaza strip by the Israeli army, Tsahal, against Palestinians during July/August 2006. The investigation was performed by analysing samples of metals found in the victim's bodies and examining the unusual wounds.^[4] Israel denied possessing or using such weapons.^[5]