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can smokeless powder be detonated as a 'high explosive'?

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Author	Topic: can smokeless powder be detonated as a 'high explosive'?
PEACE A New Voice	posted December 16, 1999 03:27 AM I'd like to know once and for all if double based powders actually detonate as high explosives. i have got a good amount of 'hercules red-dot' smokeless powder (double base). If i detonated this with a primary explosive (most likely to be AP or HMTD) will the powder detonate as a high explosive? And if it did what would be the extent of damage it could cause in respect to amount used?
darcey Frequent Poster	posted December 16, 1999 04:43 AM yes it will detonate but im not really sure what damage or power you will get out of it. Give it a try, its the only way to really find out. You said you have heaps of red dot so have a bash at it and post the results.
PEACE A New Voice	posted December 16, 1999 07:10 AM ok i'll try with AP or HMTD BUT u know party poppers? the little pull string thingys that blow streamers everywhere. well anyway i blew up some red dot with the explosive from the party popper. I wasnt impressed with the power form that, so i was wondering if the AP or HMTD would make it detonate more powerfully?
nbk2000 Moderator	posted December 16, 1999 09:40 AM Smokeless powder (or nitrocellulose as it's more properly called) can be detonated, but you need to use proper detonators to do the trick. Party poppers won't do it, all it will do is ignite it. As a matter of fact, NC burns slower than black powder. As for power, NC will detonate at between 20,000-22,000 FPS. About the same as TNT. You can make plastique from smokeless powder. Go to http://www.50megs.com/nbk2000/weaponsandtactics/explosivesindex.html and look in the "guncotton" section for instructions on how to do it. You'll also find several files on making proper detonators too. ------------------ "The knowledge that they fear is a weapon to be used against them." www.50megs.com/nbk2000
*Igenx* Frequent Poster	posted December 16, 1999 05:51 PM I thought that only double base smokeless powder could be used as a high explosive? I agree that those party poppers are useless for detanators only with a primary explosive they will be useful and thats cause they can be used for rigging simple booytraps.
*Igenx* Frequent Poster	posted December 16, 1999 05:53 PM The nitroglycerine is what detonates, not the nitrocellulose, right? Only single base smokeless powder can rightly be called nitrocellulose.
nbk2000 Moderator	posted December 16, 1999 08:19 PM Both NG and NC are high explosives. Single base is straight NC, double base is a mix of NC and NG. Double base is slightly more powerful than single, but both are as powerful as TNT. My "Gun Cotton" page in the explosives section of my site explains all about it. ------------------ "The knowledge that they fear is a weapon to be used against them." www.50megs.com/nbk2000
Blaze Frequent Poster	posted December 16, 1999 11:51 PM single base smokelesspowder uses only lightly nitrated cellulose, therefore low power detonation, but both single and double will provide more power if properly detonated.. i remember pointing out that red dot is a faster powder than green dot, which was detonated on "makeshift arsenal" comparing it to a single based powder.. , there you can see what to expect.. also remember that the shotshell powders are low density therefore if you could somehow raise the density you can expect a higher VOD..
wave Frequent Poster	posted December 17, 1999 08:35 PM how much AP should i used to det a 6in pipe bomb of black powder and the pipe is about a 1in D
VeHeMT Frequent Poster	posted December 17, 1999 08:54 PM Black powder does not detonate. But as the thread name would indicate, Nitrocellulose does... 2grams should be enough. Someone correct me if im wrong. Make sure it is in a tube(aluminum, copper etc..) with one end blocked. Go to nbk2000, explosives section and read the information he has on making blasting caps, I can assure you, you will not need to ask anymore questions after reading the blasting cap files.

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