R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

143 Fumes
may lead to heavy internal injuries up to lung rupture. Modern infantry
troops have a much better fragment protection than in former days, but
until now there is no effective protection against the effects of such
strong blast waves.
Fumes
Schwaden; fumées de tir
The composition of the fumes produced by the detonation of an
explosive can be determined by calculation (W Thermodynamic Calculation
of Decomposition Reactions) or by detonating a cartridge of the
explosive in a closed vessel (W Bichel Bomb) followed by gas analysis
of the fumes.
In the case of industrial explosives containing an excess of oxygen
(W Oxygen Balance), it is conventionally assumed for the calculated
values that only CO2, but no CO, and also that only H2O, N2 and
excess O2 are contained in the fumes. In reality the reaction is much
more complex, and the product may in fact include CO, NO, NO2, CH4
and many other substances, if the explosive contained sulfur and/or
chlorine compounds.
It must always be assumed that explosive fumes and propellant fumes
are to some extent toxic. Excess oxygen causes the formation of
nitrogen oxides, deficiency carbon monoxide, both toxic. In the United
States, the following classification of toxic fume components has been
accepted: a 1–1/4 by 8c cartridge in its cartridge paper is detonated in
a W Bichel Bomb, and the fume composition is analysed. In the
following Table “toxic gases” means the sum CO + H2S (NO and NO2
are not considered!) in ft3 /lb explosive:
A. Permitted explosives (as laid down by the Bureau of Mines, USA)
Table 14.
Fume Class Toxic Gases Toxic Gases
ft 3 /lb l/kg
A less than 1.25 78
B 1.25–2.50 78–156
C 2.50–3.75 156–234
B. Rock-blasting explosives (as laid down by the W IME: Institute of
Makers of Explosives, USA)