The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives - Sciencemadness Dot Org

450 PRIMARY EXPLOSIVES, DETONATORS, AND PRIMERS
then that tetracene is more brisant—and presumably explodes
with a greater velocity of detonation—when initiated by fulminate
or tctryl than when self-initiated by fire.
Tetracene is easily dead-pressed, its self-acceleration is low,
and it is not suitable for use alone as an initiating explosive.
FIGURE 104. Tetracene Crystals (150X).
It is as efficient as fulminate only if it is externally initiated.
It is used in detonators either initiated by another primary explosive
and functioning as an intermediate booster or mixed with
another primary explosive to increase the sensitivity of the latter
to flame or heat. A recent patent 62 recommends the use of a
mixture of tetracene and lead azide in explosive rivets. Tetracene
is used in primer caps where as little as 2% in the composition
results in an improved uniformity of percussion sensitivity.
«2 Brit. Pat. 528,299 (1940) to Dynamit-Aktien Gesellschaft vorm. Alfred
Nobel & Co.