Explosives – any chemical compound or mixture that undergo rapid burning or
decomposition by influenced of heat, pressure, friction, or shock producing large
amount of gas, heat and sudden pressure affects
I. According to the Speed of Reaction
a. High Explosives (detonating charges) – the
speed of its detonation wave equal to 1000
m/s and pressure equal to thousands of
atmospheres. Such intensity can break a
material into fragments long before its
opportunity to move away.
Two Classes of High Explosive
1. Primary – used to start explosion
2. Secondary – stable but can be detonated
by primary explosives
b. Low Explosives (deflagrating charge) – the rate of decomposition
are relatively slow process and the wave produced is less than
the speed of sound. They were applied for launching rockets,
projectiles form guns and missile systems.
Classes of Low Explosives According to their Use
1. Primer – use to propel ammunitions
2. Igniter – use to initiate explosions (e.g. safety fuse)
Propellant – use to launch rockets and missile
II. According to their Application or Design
a. Military Explosives – use in military purposes
Some Common Military Explosives
1. Grenades – derived from Greek word “Grabatus” as
implied by the Spanish in 16th century. Granada (Spanish
word for Pomegranate)
o TYPES: MK2 fragmentation hand grenade and M26
fragmentation hand grenade
• Three (3) Main Parts of Hand Grenade
a) Filler – the chemical or
explosive substance in the
grenade body.
b) Body – this contains the
filler and provides
fragmentation
c) Fuze Assembly – heart of
then grenade function to give
chain reaction of chemical,
mechanical or electrical actions
2. Fuses – use to initiate
explosive in any war hood (part
of missile)
o Two Types of Fuse:
1. Point-detonated (PD) – by impact, proximity or
delay
2. Variable Time (VT) – detonates when the war
head is at certain distance from the target
3. Incendiaries – device that burns rather than explode
4. Chemical Ordnance – simple as riot grenade or smoke
bomb or as lethal as Sarin nerve gas. US type typically
gray with color bonds.
5. Other Type: Ammunition, Rockets and Missiles,
Mines, Submunition, Air Drop, and Simulators
b. Industrial Explosives o Boosters
Dynamites o Black or Smokeless Powder
Ammonium nitrate explosives
Water Explosives c. Improvised Explosive Device
Slurries and water gels o Basic components include
Explosive Emulsion Power
Source Initiator Explosive and
Switch
Blasting caps (PIES)
Safety Fuse d. Explosive with limited use
Detonating Cord o Includes those which were used
Blasting Agents from
the past and become obsolete.
Explosion is a violent bursting
or expansion caused by the release
of the mechanical, chemical, or
nuclear energy from a confined
area. This is a phenomenon
resulting from a sudden release of
energy and it happened so rapidly
that a local accumulation of energy
occurs at the site of explosion
moving outward in various ways.
An implosion is similar
phenomenon except that the energy released is initially
directed inward.
QUESTION: Is there an explosion without explosives?
ANSWER: Yes, because even the tiniest drop of water can be considered as
an explosion compared to the strongest and loudest natural explosion – the
volcanic eruption.
Types of Explosion
1. Mechanical Explosion – it is a sudden breaking apart, shattering or bursting
into pieces by internal pressure as that of gas or steam boiler; also known as
pressure explosion.
2. Chemical Explosion – a source of explosion wherein the source of this energy
comes from an explosive such as gunpowder.
3. Nuclear explosion – an explosion due to nuclear fusion and fission of particles.
Effect of Explosion
An explosion produces a very rapid growing shockwaves moving outward as it
transform into a more stable substance. It is accompanied by a loud and sharp
report as it liberates great amount of energy into the form of heat, light, and
other form of gasses.