Mineman's Detonating Pyrotechnic Alternative (NPED)

Over the last couple of years I have alluded to and given hints about a pyrotechnic formula I have discovered that can replace primary explosives in some applications. Although I have never explicitly stated the formulation, due to asperations of commercial applications and patents. I will below. This post will serve as a type of intellectual property.

The goal of this research was two fold; to create a pyrotechnic alternative to primary explosives, and, for this formulation to be "binary" or "field mixable"

The friction and impact sensitivity of this formulation is similar to that of PETN. The flame sensitivity is so low, this compound cannot be ignited by a typical lighter or fuse, and is therefore immune to static! As little as 100mg will DDT lightly confined, and if prepared in a eutectic nature, as little as 10mg unconfined!

There are several rules I have developed from research leading to this compound for detonating pyrotechnics. Some of these rules are even applicable to creating sensitive AN mixtures!

-Ammonium Perchlorate and other gaseous oxidizers are preferred.
-Potassium Perchlorate or a similar fast reacting oxidizer is necessary to catalyze the gaseous oxidizer.
-One fuel must contain nitrogen atoms to promote DDT
-To reduce sensitivity and increase DDT, the mixture must be OB+

The formula is as follows:

Oxidizer Component
Ammonium Perchlorate 80 Parts (Gradation of sizes up to 120um)
Potassium Perchlorate 20 Parts

Fuel Component
Nano Aluminum 5 Parts (Preferably 100nm)
Hexamine 7.5 Parts

After these components are mixed together and sieved through a 150um mesh; 1 Part Graphite and 1 Part Steric Acid are mixed in, which further reduces the impact, friction and static sensitivity. Making handling a non issue. Ideally the Ammonium Perchlorate is not fully powdered to the degree of flour, but has a gradation of sizes smaller than 120um, this is crucial for DDT. This mixture will not ignite by flame or fuse, and will only react once melted (burn or DDT) if unconfined. Confined in foil, 50mg will detonate under the flame of a candle, and accelerate the foil to supersonic velocities, indicating detonation most definitely occurs

This mixture can be prepared in two additional ways that both increase the performance, however, this formulation will then no longer be "field mixable" Nitrocellulose, 5 to 10 Parts can be added, in addition to an appropriate solvent and sieved through a 1x1mm or 2x2mm mesh. The resulting formulation easily DDTs in sub gram quantities in copper, aluminum or carbon fiber tubes. Alternatively a eutectic mixture can also be prepared, in which the ingredients are mixed dry and put into an oven at a temperature of approximately 120 to 175C. The mixture will turn a slight yellow and release fumes that resemble formaldehyde in smell, but retain a plastic consistency, moldable in shape. Sieved through a 1x1mm mesh, this eutectic mixture will detonate unconfined in quantities as little as 10mg! All of these mixtures will be stable in dry storage and will not loose performance.

Thermochemical code indicates a VOD of 5500m/s; while tests show the brisance is high enough to achieve explosive welding a witness plate in quantities as little as a gram, thus truly being a detonating pyrotechnic mixture whose performance is comparable to LA. Unlike traditional NPEDs, multiple loading densities are not needed. Rather, the optimum loading density is the mixture poured into a tube, and the tube lightly tapped on a hard surface.

The percentage of nmAl and Hexamine are very important to the engineering of this formulation. Higher percentages of Al will cause the mixtures sensitivity to increase dramatically, while only benefiting ignitability. Without hexamine, the mixture's VOD will be closer to 3000-3300m/s and larger quantities will be needed for DDT. It is theorized that Hexamine Diperchlorate is formed and consumed on the CJ plane. This formulation can reliably function with nmAl Parts as low as 3 and Hexamine Parts as low as 5. No benefit is seen from increasing the Hexamine over 7.5 parts unless the mixture is to be used as a eutectic plastic secondary explosive. Other nitrogen containing fuels known in the art can be used as well. This mixture performs well with creatine replacing the hexamine.

If anyone has any additional questions, comments, suggestions for improvements or would like to preform tests on their own, then please comment below

[Edited on 22-1-2021 by MineMan]

Quote: Originally posted by Brightthermite

Very interested to try this! May I ask what method you use to ignite the mixture?

Quote: Originally posted by greenlight

Wow! Good work indeed. The mixture resembles a hybrid exotic flashpowder, yet I have never seen flash with a secondary hexamine fuel! Guess if you consider it a completely hybrid "flash", you have answered the age old debate of whether flash can detonate haha. Definitely worth trying to patent as I have never seen something which looks like a deflagrating composition on paper that is actually able to achieve detonation.

Quote: Originally posted by Laboratory of Liptakov

Great work, MineMan. Exist some source link for nano Alu powder used? Thanks.

Quote: Originally posted by Laboratory of Liptakov

Thanks for link. Is it not super fine nano Aluminium. 100nm = 0.1 um. However, spherical shape is important value. I estimate. Against quick oxidation in mixtures during a longer times. And 25 grams is basically forever. For this purpose. At 5% using. You mean Stearic acid, estimate. In text is Steric acid.

Quote: Originally posted by katyushaslab

Which specific smokeless powder are you using here? They do vary quite a lot in composition and availability across locations.

No. It will not work without the nano Al. If so I believe this would have been discovered fall earlier.

Yes. Alice is genius . It is detonable too, a 1 to 1 part of nAl and water. But booster needed.

Dornier’s method is best. But it might not work for such a precise formula. Because his method produces flakes. Only way is to buy a planetary ball mill for 1000 bucks. But that will make flakes too. But planetary should work.

Quote: Originally posted by Laboratory of Liptakov

Exactly. Dornier method will very difficult and result will flakes with impurities from friction surfaces. Nano Aluminium for this purpose must be exact defined value. I estimate, that way for successful is buy professional spherical shape 100 nano Aluminium. And from this point is possible continue. For a lot amateur researchers it will obstacle. Of course, aluminum nanoparticles open up space for further research, for example mixtures of ETN + Nitrocellulose + nanoparticles. For example ETN 90 + NC 5 + Alu 5. Or ETN 80 + NC 10 + Alu 10. Mixed under acetone and sieve agglomerates 1x1 or 2x2 mm. [Edited on 26-1-2021 by Laboratory of Liptakov]

LL,

That would most definitely work for a DDT detonator, but the correct composition would have to be figured out. No more than a days work. I suspect having 15 percent 1000 mesh magnesium and 10 parts PP... the ETN would become a sort of flash powder that can make the transition

Exactly, nano powders open up a world of new research, but we must be very careful... health effects are not fully respected or understood. Aluminum, while in foil and nearly everything... is a neurotoxin, it binds to the fluoride in our body from water. Al factory works have a higher incident rate of brain type sicknesses. And nano, can be absorbed into our skin and pass defenses, directly into the brain. While Mg on the other hand in nano might be good for us

But we must be careful when we venture into these things. Nano Al, Nano Zr, Nano Ti...ect who truly knows the risks??

[Edited on 26-1-2021 by MineMan]

[Edited on 26-1-2021 by MineMan]

[Edited on 26-1-2021 by MineMan]

Quote: Originally posted by Brightthermite

I would also be interested to hear more about this ETN/KClO4/Mg mix you mentioned!

Something a like MEM = Mineman Explosive Mixture. Or MAM = Mineman Alternative Mixture. Or MPAD = Mineman Perchlorate Alternative Detonator. Or MPD = Minenan Perchlorate Detonator. Or MPED = Mineman Perchlorate Ecologic Detonator. The last is the most comprehensible. Mineman´s NPED.
The acronym is very important for others and for communication.....



[Edited on 27-1-2021 by Laboratory of Liptakov]

Quote: Originally posted by Brightthermite

I like MPAD, it could be said as M-pad.

Quote: Originally posted by dave321

the main problem if it can be viewed as one is where to get the nano aluminium, which is not easily obtained.

Quote: Originally posted by dave321

Quote: Originally posted by dave321   the main problem if it can be viewed as one is where to get the nano aluminium, which is not easily obtained. a possible source for nano aluminium, to be extracted) may be Prolimatech PK-3 Nano Aluminium Thermal paste https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183104267994?_trkparms=amclksrc%3... approx Al 70~88 (wt%) ZnO 18~34 (wt%) Oil 8~12 (wt%) Antioxidant 0.5~2 (wt%) what do you guys think ?

Quote: Originally posted by dave321

Quote: Originally posted by dave321   the main problem if it can be viewed as one is where to get the nano aluminium, which is not easily obtained. a possible source for nano aluminium, to be extracted) may be Prolimatech PK-3 Nano Aluminium Thermal paste https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183104267994?_trkparms=amclksrc%3... approx Al 70~88 (wt%) ZnO 18~34 (wt%) Oil 8~12 (wt%) Antioxidant 0.5~2 (wt%) what do you guys think ?

Quote: Originally posted by Mateo_swe

Quote: Originally posted by dave321   Quote: Originally posted by dave321   the main problem if it can be viewed as one is where to get the nano aluminium, which is not easily obtained. a possible source for nano aluminium, to be extracted) may be Prolimatech PK-3 Nano Aluminium Thermal paste https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183104267994?_trkparms=amclksrc%3... approx Al 70~88 (wt%) ZnO 18~34 (wt%) Oil 8~12 (wt%) Antioxidant 0.5~2 (wt%) what do you guys think ? Well, even if you are able to separate the aluminum nanoparticles in that thermal compound (and hope its spherical particles) its no cheaper than buying that 25grams from Texas for 100$. And from the US its clean and ready to use.

Quote: Originally posted by Herr Haber

The default quantity is 100 grams. There's a drop down box where you can select 25 grams.

SkySpring Nanomaterials, Inc.
2935 Westhollow Drive • Houston, TX • 77082 • USA

Quote: Originally posted by Herr Haber

SkySpring Nanomaterials, Inc. 2935 Westhollow Drive • Houston, TX • 77082 • USA