Is lead azide a high explosive?
The SPLA makes up a large portion of the current U.S. military stockpile of lead azide, which has existed since the 1960s. Lead(II) azide is considered to be a highly sensitive explosive and has been classified into the first group of safety precautions [23].
Is lead styphnate a high explosive?
Lead styphnate has been widely used in ordnance systems for many years. It is a reliable explosive material and because it has been studied extensively, properties and manufacturing processes are well defined.
Why lead azide is treated as explosive?
The lead azide is an explosive initiator, being more efficient than mercury fulminate. It requires a higher temperature for spontaneous combustion and does not decompose during long storage periods at moderately elevated temperatures.
How many Nitrogens does lead azide contain?
three nitrogen atoms
Azides are compounds which contain three nitrogen atoms connected to each other, -N3, where the letter N denotes an atom of the element nitrogen.
Can you buy lead styphnate?
Lead styphnate is not available at this moment. It is an explosive chemical.
What makes HMX an explosive?
It is made from other chemicals known as hexamine, ammonium nitrate, nitric acid, and acetic acid. HMX (Octogen) explodes violently at high temperatures. Because of this property, HMX (Octogen) is used in various kinds of explosives, rocket fuels, and burster chargers.
What is the explosion effect of lead azide?
Lead azide appears as needles or white powder. Explodes at 350°C. Insoluble in water. May explode from shock, heat, flame or friction when dry. The primary hazard is the blast effect of an instantaneous explosion and not flying projectiles and fragments. O’Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index – An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals.
Which is the best replacement for lead azide?
DBX-1 has been successful as a drop-in replacement for lead azide and lead azide/lead styphnate mixtures in multiple detonators and has also shown preliminary success as lead styphnate replacement in primers, blasting caps, initiators, and detonators.
Why are lead azide and lead styphnate bad for You?
Lead azide and lead styphnate are lead-based compounds that incur extensive shipping and disposal requirements, thus driving lifecycle costs. Lead-based materials are well established to cause environmental and health related problems.
What is the shelf life of lead azide?
Lead azide has a good shelf life in dry conditions, but is unstable in the presence of moisture, oxidizing agents, and ammonia. Akhavan J, Explosives and Propellants. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (2004).