Now, here I stress the word of safety. These explosive compounds can remove a limb or kill you. So I would suggest, before you even think about trying any of these, that you have some background knowledge on explosives or chemistry. These explosives range from sound sensitive to water sensitive or electrically ignited.
It takes time and patience to make high explosive compounds. Some are easier than the others and some of the chemicals seem almost impossible to find. In this part, to obtain most of the chemicals needed here you will have to go though a chemical supply house. Remember that some of the chemical houses have been told to notify the police if a certain combination of chemicals are ordered then send the name and all the information about that person ordering to the police. And it is possible that you might get a little visit from the city law. Also, making, using, selling, or possession of many of the explosives is illegal and a hard penalty can rise. Even for first offenders. Take this warning!! Its true!
The astrolite family of liquid explosives were products of rocket propellant research in the '60's. Astrolite A-1-5 is supposed to be the world's most powerful non-nuclear explosive -at about 1.8 to 2 times more powerful than TNT. Being more powerful it is also safer to handle than TNT(not that it isn't safe in the first place) and Nitroglycerin.
"Astrolite G is a clear liquid explosive especially designed to produce very high detonation velocity, 8,600MPS (meters/sec.) ,compared with 7,700MPS for nitroglycerin and 6,900MPS for TNT...In addition,a very unusual characteristic is that it the liquid explosive has the ability to be absorbed easily into the ground while remaining detonable...In field tests, Astrolite G has remained detonable for 4 days in the ground, even when the soil was soaked due to rainy weather know what that means?....Astrolite Dynamite! To make (mix in fairly large container & outside)
Two parts by weight of Ammonium Nitrate mixed with one part by weight 'Anhydrous' Hydrazine,produces Astrolite G...Feel free to use different ratios.
Hydrazine is the chemical you'll probably have the hardest time getting hold of. Uses for Hydrazine are: Rocket fuel, agricultural chemicals (Maleic Hydrazide), drugs (antibacterial and antihypertension), polymerization catalyst, plating metals on glass and plastics, solder fluxes, photographic developers, diving equipment. Hydrazine is also the chemical you should be careful with.
2.03 ....... ASTROLITE A/A-1-5
OK,here's the good part...
Mix 20%(weight) Aluminum powder to the Ammonium Nitrate,and then mix with Hydrazine. The Aluminum powder should be 100 mesh or finer. Astrolite A has a detonation velocity of 7,800MPS.
You should be careful not to get any of the astrolite on you, if it happens though, you should flush the area with water. Astrolite A & G both should be able to be detonated by a #8 blasting cap.
2.04 ....... SODIUM CHLORATE EXPLOSIVES
Potassium Chlorate is similar to Sodium Chlorate,and in most cases can be a substitute. Sodium Chlorate is also more soluble in water. You can find Sodium Chlorate at Channel or any hardware/home improvement store. It is used in blowtorches and you can get about 3lb.s for about $6.00.
Sodium Chlorate Gunpowder
Rocket Fuel
Rocket Fuel 2 (better performance)
Incendiary Mixture
Impact Mixture
Filler explosive
2.05 ....... NITROMETHANE EXPLOSIVES
Nitromethane 'Solid' Explosives
Phenol is melted and then mixed with a concentrated solution of Sulfuric Acid. The mixture is constantly stirred and kept at a steady temperature of 95 degrees Celsius for four to six hours, depending on the quantities of phenol used. After this, the acid-phenol solution is diluted with distilled water, and an equal excess amount of Nitric Acid is added. The mixture of the Nitric Acid will cause an immediate reaction, which will produce heat, so the addition of the acid must be performed slowly, but more importantly the temperature of the solution must not go above 110 degrees Celsius. Ten or so minutes after the addition of nitric acid, the Picric Acid will be fully formed, and you can
drain off the excess acid. It should be filtered and washed in the same manner as above until little or no acid is present. When washing, use only cold water.
After this, the picric acid should be allowed to partially dry. Picric acid is a more powerful explosive than TNT, but it has its disadvantages. It is more expensive to make, and it best handled in a wet 10 percent distilled water form, as Picric becomes very unstable when completely dry. This compound should never be put into direct contact with metal, since instantly on contact there is a formation of Metal Picrate, which explodes spontaneously upon formation.
A small amount of Dimethyllaniline is dissolved in a excess amount of concentrated Sulfuric Acid. This mixture is now added to an equal amount of Nitric Acid. The new mixture is kept in an ice bath, and is well stirred. After about five minutes, the tetryl is filtered and then washed in cold water It is now boiled in fresh water, which contains a small amount of Sodium Bicarbonate. This process acts to neutralize any remaining acid. The washings are repeated as many times as necessary according to the litmus paper tests. When you are satisfied that the Tetryl is free of acids, filter it from the water and allowed to dry. When Tetryl is detonated, it reacts in very much the same way as TNT.
2.08 ....... PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES FROM BLEACH
This explosive is derived from Potassium Chlorate. This explosive and explosives of similar composition were used in W.W.I as the main explosive filler in grenades, land mines, and mortar rounds used by French, German, and some other forces involved in that conflict.
These explosives are relatively safe to manufacture. The procedures in the following paragraph can be dangerous if you don't take special care.
One should strive to make sure these explosives are free from sulfur, sulfides, and picric acid. The presence of these compounds result in mixtures that are or can become highly sensitive and possibly decompose explosively while in storage. One should never store home made explosives, make enough for what you need at the time. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW STABLE IT IS UNTIL IT BLOWS!
The manufacture of this explosive from bleach is given just as an expedient method. This method of manufacturing potassium chlorate is not economical due to the amount of energy used to boil the solution and cause the "Disassociation" reaction to take place. The procedure does work and yields a relatively pure and a Sulfur, Sulfide free product.
These explosives are very cap sensitive and require only a #3 cap for instigating detonation.
To manufacture Potassium Chlorate from bleach you will need:
Take one gallon of bleach and place it in the container and begin heating it. While this solution heats, weigh out 63 grams potassium chloride and add this to the bleach being heated. Bring this solution to a boil and boil until when checked with a hydrometer the reading is 1.3, (if battery hydrometer is used, it should read FULL charge.)
When the reading is 1.3 take the solution and let it cool in the refrigerator until it is between room temperature and 0 degrees Celsius. Filter out the crystals that have formed and save them. Boil this solution again and cool as before. Filter and save the crystals.
Take these crystals that have been saved and mix them with distilled water in the following proportions: 56 grams per 100 milliliters distilled water. Heat that solution until it boils and allow to cool. Filter the solution and save the crystals the form upon cooling. This process of purification is called fractional crystallization. These crystals should be relatively pure potassium chlorate.
Powder these to the consistency of face powder and heat gently to drive off all moisture.
Melt five parts Vaseline and five parts wax. Dissolve this in white gasoline, (camp stove gasoline), and pour this liquid on 90 parts potassium chlorate, (the powdered crystals from above), in a plastic bowl.
Knead this liquid into the potassium chlorate until intimately mixed. Allow all the gasoline to evaporate.
Place this explosive in a cool dry place. Avoid friction, sulfur, sulfides, and phosphorous compounds. This explosive is best molded to the desired shape and density of 1.3 grams in a cube and dipped in wax till water proof. These block type charges guarantee the highest detonation velocity.
2.09 ....... RDX
THE PRODUCTION OF RDX IS VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. DO NOT ATTEMPT ANY OF THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE TAKEN SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
Since the first part of W.W.II the armed forces of the United States has been searching for the perfect plastique explosives to be used in demolition work. This search lead to the development of the 'C' composition plastique explosives. Of this group C-4 being the latest formulation that has been readily adopted by the armed forces. This formulation was preceded by C-3, C-2, and C. In this series of articles, I will cover all these explosives in their chronological progression as they were developed and standardized by the armed forces.
All these explosives are cyclonite (R.D.X.) base with various plasticizing agents used to achieve the desired product. This plasticizer, usually composes 7%-20% of the total weight of the plastique. Cyclotrimethylenetrinittrime or cyclonite is manufactured in bulk by the nitration of hexamethylenetetramine, (methenamine, hexamine, etc., etc.) with strong red 100% nitric acid. The hardest part of this reaction is obtaining this red nitric acid. It will most likely have to be made. More on this later. Hexamine or methenamine can usually be bought in bulk quantities or hexamine fuel bars for camp stoves can be used but they end up being very expensive. To use the fuel bars the need to be powdered before hand. The hexamine can also be made with common ammonia water (30%) and the commonly available 36% formaldehyde solution. To make this component place 185 grams of clear ammonia water in a shallow Pyrex dish. To this add 500 ml. of the formaldehyde solution to the ammonia water. Allow this to evaporate and when the crystals are all that remains in the pan place the pan in the oven on the lowest heat that the oven has. This should be
done only for a moment or so to drive off any remaining water. These crystals are scraped up and placed in a airtight jar to store them until they are used. To make the red nitric acid you will need to buy a retort with a ground glass stopper. In the retort place 32 grams sulfuric acid, (98%-100%), and to this add 68 grams of potassium nitrate or 58 grams of sodium nitrate. Gently heating this retort will generate a red gas called nitrogen trioxide. THIS GAS IS HIGHLY POISONOUS AND THIS STEP, AS WITH ALL OTHER STEPS, SHOULD BE DONE WITH GOOD VENTILATION. This nitric acid that is formed will collect in the neck of the retort and form droplets that will run down the inside of the neck of the retort and should be caught in a beaker cooled by being surrounded by ice water.
This should be heated till no more collects in the neck of the retort and the nitric acid quits dripping out of the neck into the beaker. This acid should be stored until enough acid is generated to produce the required size batch which is determined by the person producing the explosive. Of course the batch can be larger or smaller but the same ratios should be maintained. To make R.D.X. place 550 grams of the nitric acid produced by the above procedure in a 1000 ml. beaker in a salted bath. 50 grams of hexamine, (methenamine) is added in small portions making sure that THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ACID DOES NOT GO ABOVE 30 DEGREES CELSIUS. This temperature can be monitored by placing a thermometer directly in the acid mixture. During this procedure a vigorous stirring should be maintained. If the temperature approaches 30 degrees, IMMEDIATELY STOP THE ADDITION OF THE HEXAMINE until the temperature drops to an acceptable level.
After the addition is complete continue the stirring and allow the temperature to drop to 0 degrees Celsius and allow it to stay there for 20 minutes continuing the vigorous stirring. After the 20 minutes are up, pour this acid-hexamine mixture into 1000 ml. of finely crushed ice and water. Crystals should form and are filtered out of the liquid. The crystals that are filtered out are R.D.X. and will need to have all traces of the acid removed. To remove this trace of acid, first wash these crystals by putting them in ice water and shaking and re-filtering. These crystals are then placed in a little boiling water and filtered. Place them in some warm water and check the acidity for the resultant suspension with litmus paper. You want it to read between 6 and 7 on the pH scale. If there is still acid in these crystals re-boil them in fresh water until the acid is removed and the litmus paper shows them between 6 and 7, (the closer to 7 the better). To be safe these crystals should be stored water wet until ready for use. THESE CRYSTALS ARE A VERY HIGH EXPLOSIVE AND SHOULD BE TREATED WITH THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE! This explosive is much more powerful than T.N.T. To use, these will need to be dried for some manufacturing processes in the next few articles. To dry these crystals, place them in a pan and spread them out and allow the water to evaporate off them until the are completely dry. This explosive will detonate in this dry form when pressed into a mold to a density of 1.55 grams cubed, at a velocity of 8550 M/second!
All of the type 'C' plastic explosives (that includes C-2, C-3, and C-4) are exceedingly powerful and should be used with utmost care.
This explosive is just a copy of a British explosive that was adopted early in W.W.II. This explosive is the choice explosive of the type 'C' compounds because of its relative ease of manufacture and the easy acquisition of the plasticizer compound. This explosive was available in standard demolition blocks.
This explosive was standardized and adopted in the following composition:
(All percentages are by weight)
| R.D.X | 88.3% |
| Heavy mineral oil | 11.1% |
| Lecithin | .6% |
In this composition, the lecithin acts to prevent the formation of large crystals of R.D.X. which would increase the sensitivity of the explosive. This explosive has a good deal of power and is relatively non-toxic, (except when ingested).
It is also plastic from 0-40 degrees Celsius. Above 40 degrees the explosive undergoes extrusion and becomes gummy although its explosive properties go relatively unimpaired. Below 0 degrees Celsius it becomes brittle and its cap
sensitivity is lessened considerably.
Manufacturing this explosive can be done two ways. First being to dissolve the 11.7% plasticizing in unleaded gasoline and mixing with the R.D.X. and allowing the gasoline to evaporate until the mixture is free of all gasoline.
The second method being the simple kneading of the plasticizing compound into the R.D.X. until a uniform mixture is obtained. This explosive should be stored in a cool-dry place. If properly made the plastique should be very stable in storage even if stored at elevated temperatures for long periods of time. It should be very cap sensitive. A booster will be a good choice, especially if used below 0 degrees Celsius. This detonates at a velocity of 7900 M/second.
2.11 ....... COMPOSITION C-2 AND C-3
These are highly undesirable because of certain trait each has and they don't produce as much power as 'C' and 'C-4' compounds.
It is not recommended you make these two types of plastique, this part was written for informative purposes only.
Composition 'C-2' is harder to make than 'C-4' and is TOXIC TO HANDLE. It is also unstable in storage and is poor choice for home explosive manufacture. It also has a lower detonation velocity than either 'C-4' or 'C-3'.
It is manufactured in a steam jacketed (heated) melting kettle using the same procedure used in incorporation of 'C-3'. Its composition is as follows:
| R.D.X. | 80% |
| Dimethylformide | 20% |
(See Below for rest of recipe)
'C-3' was developed to eliminate the undesirable aspects of 'C-2'. It was standardized and adopted by the military as following composition:
| R.D.X | 77% |
| Mononitrotolulene | 16% |
| Dinitrotolulene | 5% |
| Tetryl | 1% |
| T.N.T. | 1% |
'C-3' is manufactured by mixing the plasticizing agent in a steam jacketed melting kettle equipped with a mechanical stirring attachment. The kettle is heated to 90-100 degrees Celsius and the stirrer is activated. Water wet R.D.X. is added to the plasticizing agent and the stirring is continued until a uniform mixture is obtained and all water has been driven off. Remove the heat source but continue to stir the mixture until it has cooled to room temperature.
This explosive is as sensitive to impact as is T.N.T. Storage at 65 degrees Celsius for four months at a relative humidity of 95% does not impair it's explosive properties.
'C-3' is 133% as good as an explosive as T.N.T. The major drawback of 'C-3'is its volatility which causes it to lose 1.2% of its weight although the explosives detonation properties are not affected.
Water does not affect explosives performance. Thus it is very good for
under-water demolition uses and would be a good choice for such an application.
When stored at 77 degrees Celsius considerable extrusion takes place. It
will become hard at -29 degrees Celsius and is hard to detonate at this temperature.
While this explosive is not unduly toxic, it should be handled with care as it contains aryl-nitro compounds which are absorbed through the skin.
It will reliably take detonation from a #6 blasting cap but the use of a booster is always suggested. This explosive has a great blast effect and was available in standard demolition blocks. Its detonation velocity is approximately 7700 M/second.
Below are five different ways to make a very common explosive.
These percentages are in
weight ratio
| nitro | 12% |
| guncotton | .5% |
| ammonium nitrate | 87.5% |
| nitro | 88% |
| potassium nitrate | 5% |
| tetryl | 7% |
| nitro | 24% |
| guncotton | 1% |
| ammonium nitrate | 75% |
| nitro | 75% |
| guncotton | 5% |
| potassium nitrate | 15% |
| wood meal | 5% |
| nitro | 80% |
| ethylene glycol dinitrate | 20% |
| nitro | 32 |
| sodium nitrate | 28 |
| woodmeal | 10 |
| ammonium oxalate | 29 |
| guncotton | 1 |
| nitro | 24 |
| potassium nitrate | 9 |
| sodium nitrate | 56 |
| woodmeal | 9 |
| ammonium oxalate | 2 |
| nitro | 35.5 |
| potassium nitrate | 44.5 |
| woodmeal | 6 |
| guncotton | 2.5 |
| Vaseline | 5.5 |
| powdered charcoal | 6 |
| nitro | 25 |
| potassium nitrate | 26 |
| woodmeal | 34 |
| barium nitrate | 5 |
| starch | 10 |
| nitro | 57 |
| potassium nitrate | 19 |
| woodmeal | 9 |
| ammonium oxalate | 12 |
| guncotton | 3 |
| nitro | 18 |
| sodium nitrate | 70 |
| woodmeal | 5.5 |
| potassium chloride | 4.5 |
| chalk | 2 |
| nitro | 26 |
| woodmeal | 40 |
| barium nitrate | 32 |
| sodium carbonate | 2 |
| nitro | 24 |
| potassium nitrate | 32.5 |
| woodmeal | 33.5 |
| ammonium oxalate | 10 |
| potassium nitrate | 33 |
| woodmeal | 41 |
| nitro | 15 |
| sodium nitrate | 62.9 |
| woodmeal | 21.2 |
| sodium carbonate | .9 |
| nitro | 35 |
| sodium nitrate | 27 |
| woodmeal | 10 |
| ammonium oxalate | 1 |
| nitro | 32 |
| potassium nitrate | 27 |
| woodmeal | 10 |
| ammonium oxalate | 30 |
| guncotton | 1 |
| nitro | 33 |
| woodmeal | 10.3 |
| ammonium oxalate | 29 |
| guncotton | .7 |
| potassium perchloride | 27 |
| nitro | 40 |
| sodium nitrate | 45 |
| woodmeal | 15 |
| nitro | 47 |
| starch | 50 |
| guncotton | 3 |
| nitro | 30 |
| sodium nitrate | 22.3 |
| woodmeal | 40.5 |
| potassium chloride | 7.2 |
| nitro | 50 |
| sodium nitrate | 32.6 |
| woodmeal | 17 |
| ammonium oxalate | .4 |
| nitro | 23 |
| potassium nitrate | 27.5 |
| woodmeal | 37 |
| ammonium oxalate | 8 |
| barium nitrate | 4 |
| calcium carbonate | .5 |