R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

255 Plate Dent Test
acid is prepared by dissolving phenol in sulfuric acid and subsequent
nitration of the resulting phenoldisulfonic acid with nitric acid or by
further nitration of dinitrophenol (prepared from dinitrochlorobenzene).
The crude product is purified by washing in water.
Picric acid was used as a grenade and mine filling. It needs a high
pouring temperature, which is undesirable. However, the solidification
point can be depressed by the addition of nitronaphthalene, dinitrobenzene
or trinitrocresol.
A drawback of picric acid is its tendency to form impact-sensitive metal
salts (picrates) when in direct contact with shell walls, etc.; W TNT.
Plastic Explosives
kunststoffgebundene Sprengstoff-Mischungen; explosif-liant plastique
High-brisance crystalline explosives, such as RDX or octogen, can be
embedded in curable or polyadditive plastics such as polysulfides,
polybutadiene, acrylic acid, polyurethane, etc. The mixture is then
cured into the desired shape. Other components such as aluminum
powder can also be incorporated. The products obtained can be of any
desired size, and specified mechanical properties can be imparted to
them, including rubber-like elasticity (W LX and W PBX). They can also
be shaped into foils.
“Plastic” also means mixtures of W RDX with vaseline or gelatinized
liquid nitro compounds of plastiline-like consistency.
Also propellant charges for rockets and guns have also been developed
by compounding solid explosives such as nitramines (e.g.
W Hexogen) with plastics. Plastic explosives and plastic propellants
are of interest, if low thermal and impact sensitivity is needed
(W LOVA; W IHE).
Plate Dent Test
is a brisance comparison test used in the USA for military explosives.
There are two methods:
Method A – The charge is contained in a copper tube, having an
internal diameter of 3/4-inch and a 1/16-inch wall. This loaded tube is
placed vertically on a square piece of cold-rolled steel plate, 5/8-inch
thick; 4-inch and 3-1/4-inch square plate gave the same results. The
steel plate is in a horizontal position and rests in turn on a short length
of heavy steel tubing 1-1/2 inches ID and 3 inches OD. The charge
rests on the center of the plate, and the centers of the charge, plate,
and supporting tube are in the same line. A 20g charge of the