Panclastite
Encyclopedia
Panclastites are a class of Sprengel explosive
s similar to oxyliquit
s. They were first suggested in 1881 by Eugène Turpin
, a French chemist. They are a mixture of liquid dinitrogen tetroxide
serving as oxidizer with a suitable fuel, e.g. carbon disulfide
, in the 3:2 volume ratio. http://www.webref.org/geology/p/panclastite.htm Other fuel being used is nitrobenzene
. http://groups.google.com/group/alt.engr.explosives/browse_thread/thread/8c8f3e5a17318302/448ca5bb38d95033?lnk=st&q=panclastite&rnum=1&hl=en#448ca5bb38d95033 Possible alternative fuels are e.g. nitrotoluene, gasoline
, nitromethane
, or halocarbon
s.
Panclastites are shock-sensitive and difficult to handle, requiring their mixing immediately before use; also the dinitrogen tetroxide is highly corrosive and explodes in contact with some chemicals. Despite their brisance
and detonation velocity being comparable with TNT, panclastites have virtually no use today.
During World War I, due to shortages of other explosives, French used some panclastite-class mixtures, which they called anilites, in small aircraft bombs. The mixing of the chemicals was triggered by airflow spinning a propeller on the nose of the bomb after it was dropped, mixing the previously separated chemicals inside. The resulting mixture was so sensitive the bombs did not need a fuze to explode on impact.
In the 1880s, Germans were testing torpedo
es with panclastite warhead
. Carbon disulfide and nitrogen tetroxide were stored in separate glass compartments, which were broken when the torpedo was launched and the chemicals mixed, and later were detonated by a contact fuse
.
Sprengel explosive
Sprengel explosives are a generic class of materials invented by Hermann Sprengel in the 1870s. They consist of stoichiometric mixtures of strong oxidisers and reactive fuels, mixed just prior to use in order to enhance safety...
s similar to oxyliquit
Oxyliquit
An oxyliquit, also called liquid air explosive or liquid oxygen explosive, is an explosive material made of a mixture of liquid air or liquid oxygen with a suitable fuel, usually carbon or some organic chemical An oxyliquit, also called liquid air explosive or liquid oxygen explosive, is an...
s. They were first suggested in 1881 by Eugène Turpin
Eugene Turpin
François Eugène Turpin was a French chemist involved in research of explosive materials. He lived in Colombes.-Biography:...
, a French chemist. They are a mixture of liquid dinitrogen tetroxide
Dinitrogen tetroxide
Dinitrogen tetroxide is the chemical compound N2O4. It is a useful reagent in chemical synthesis. It forms an equilibrium mixture with nitrogen dioxide; some call this mixture dinitrogen tetroxide, while some call it nitrogen dioxide.Dinitrogen tetroxide is a powerful oxidizer, making it highly...
serving as oxidizer with a suitable fuel, e.g. carbon disulfide
Carbon disulfide
Carbon disulfide is a colorless volatile liquid with the formula CS2. The compound is used frequently as a building block in organic chemistry as well as an industrial and chemical non-polar solvent...
, in the 3:2 volume ratio. http://www.webref.org/geology/p/panclastite.htm Other fuel being used is nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5NO2. It is a water-insoluble pale yellow oil with an almond-like odor. It freezes to give greenish-yellow crystals. It is produced on a large scale as a precursor to aniline. Although occasionally used as a flavoring or perfume...
. http://groups.google.com/group/alt.engr.explosives/browse_thread/thread/8c8f3e5a17318302/448ca5bb38d95033?lnk=st&q=panclastite&rnum=1&hl=en#448ca5bb38d95033 Possible alternative fuels are e.g. nitrotoluene, gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
, nitromethane
Nitromethane
Nitromethane is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest organic nitro compound. It is a slightly viscous, highly polar liquid commonly used as a solvent in a variety of industrial applications such as in extractions, as a reaction medium, and as a cleaning solvent...
, or halocarbon
Halocarbon
Halocarbon compounds are chemicals in which one or more carbon atoms are linked by covalent bonds with one or more halogen atoms resulting in the formation of organofluorine compounds, organochlorine compounds, organobromine compounds, and organoiodine compounds...
s.
Panclastites are shock-sensitive and difficult to handle, requiring their mixing immediately before use; also the dinitrogen tetroxide is highly corrosive and explodes in contact with some chemicals. Despite their brisance
Brisance
Brisance is the shattering capability of an explosive. It is a measure of the rapidity with which an explosive develops its maximum pressure. The term originates from the French verb "briser", which means to break or shatter...
and detonation velocity being comparable with TNT, panclastites have virtually no use today.
During World War I, due to shortages of other explosives, French used some panclastite-class mixtures, which they called anilites, in small aircraft bombs. The mixing of the chemicals was triggered by airflow spinning a propeller on the nose of the bomb after it was dropped, mixing the previously separated chemicals inside. The resulting mixture was so sensitive the bombs did not need a fuze to explode on impact.
In the 1880s, Germans were testing torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es with panclastite warhead
Warhead
The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
. Carbon disulfide and nitrogen tetroxide were stored in separate glass compartments, which were broken when the torpedo was launched and the chemicals mixed, and later were detonated by a contact fuse
Contact fuse
A contact fuze, percussion fuze or direct-action fuze is the fuze that is placed in the nose of a bomb or shell so that it will detonate on contact with a hard surface....
.