Sciencemadness Discussion Board - Spark Gap Detonators for ETN

Spark Gap Detonators for ETN

Aurium - 4-10-2015 at 19:39

SGD

Hi everyone,
I'm happy to be joining the forum for my first post.

I'v been making and experimenting with ETN during these summer vacations, working at my simple home lab as a hobbyist.

I came across the idea of detonating ETN with a EBW detonator (Exploding Bridge Wire), I decided to give a try to the concept after failing to ignite my ETN with simple resistive pyro igniters.

Reading around the web and the forum on the look for a theory about the mechanism of an EBW, I developed my own theory, that the thin wire itself was not the igniting mechanism, but instead it was the very hot and very conductive plasma gap created after the wire vaporizes that triggers the explosive.

I then made a device, similar to the EBW, but with no thin wire, expecting a spark gap to generate between two electrodes and initiate the ETN.

##########################################

I was successful, here is my setup:

I bought a timer relay module on ebay *link*,
a High Voltage module *link*
and as capacitors I used first a microwave oven capacitor (MOC), 1uF rated 2200V, then regular electronics film pulse capacitors (3*0.33uF 850V in series) .

The detonators were essentially a thin (~3mm) plasting tube cut to 2cm length.
First I inserted the two leads, electronics unifilliar wire cut 5mm bare at the tip, inserted at opposite sides of the tube and hot-glued to place.
Then I filled the inside with ETN, using not much pressure to stuff it in, and capped it with thigh duct tape. All done.
Each of these takes some 10min to make.

The detonators were filled with ETN that was recrystallized in Methanol, reducing its overall density over Acetone recrystallized ETN.
I do not know if these detonators work with Acetone ETN since I made no tests with it. This is something to test later.

The HV module is capable of delivering up to 15kV max,
Experiments showed the trigger voltage to be around the 5kV mark for my detonator. (I used two parallel plates to measure the HV since the currents are too small to use a multimeter/R.divider.)

Wire length A links the HV module to the capacitor. I used about 20m in all my tests. My guess it that this length is not too important.
Wire length B links the capacitor to the detonator.

So power goes into the HV module, steps it up, charges the capacitor bank. When voltage is high enough it causes a discharge inside the ETN that makes it explode.

A summary of my tests:

- MOC (1uF) + 4m Wire B: 15/15. worked every time with 15 tested.
- Film capacitor bank (0.1uF rated 2500V) + 2m Wire B: worked, however only one test was made.

Also, I made some detonators differently so that the spark occurs a few millimeters above the ETN. All these tests failed. The spark occured but the ETN did not detonate.
It is important that the discharge happens through the ETN crystals, not around it.

Despite the capacitors were only rated 2kV they were able to withstand the 5kV without problem.
Steve, from HV labs, tested MOCs to take up to 10kV before failing.

Be aware that the HV side of the circuit must the very well insulated. Any bare wire or connecting touching the earth, ground, and the current will dissipate away and the capacitor wont charge enough.
I used those screw connectors made of plastic, common for mains power installations.

If you want to use the microwave oven capacitor make sure you open it up and remove the internal bleeder resistor, otherwise the voltage will not rise enough to trigger a spark.

Always remember to discharge the capacitor after each run, bang or no bang, before you touch the HV side. And yes, touching just one pole will shock your hearth out.

##########################################

About the HV Module.
They'r super fun and super scary to play with. Cheap and very easy to use. They consume 2Amps and will pull a 6V battery back down to 3.5V. Do keep an eye on battery level as it drains quickly.
Capacitor charging time was about some 15 seconds for 1uF and under 2 sec for the 0.1uF bank.
Ebay Link

About the Timer Relay.
Cheap, easy and very usefull. There are various makers and models. This one I bought has 13 functions, one of which allows me to set T1, from turn on to closing the relay and activating the HV module, stay on for T2 and then turn off the relay
Buy the 5 volt version as 12 volts is too much to ask from say a 9V battery. The battery will drain quickly and a 12V relay wont work with just 7V or so. Better to have a 9V battery powering a 5V device.
Also use 2 batteries, one for the timer and another for the HV module.
Ebay Link

I'm quite sure that it is the spark discharge that initiates the ETN.
I do not yet know, however, how this happens exactly. High pressure, high temperature, shock wave, maybe a direct electrostatic phenomena?
I tried using no capacitor at all (only the small output capacitors from the HV module) and it did not work.
I do not know the limits of the system.
How small can the capacitor be and how long the wire B?

I find this system much simpler than an EBW and I now use it as a main explosive igniter.
My top so far was testing 0.4kg of ANFO boosted with 10g of ETN at the beach.
First time doing it. Proved to be way too much. The explosion was heard over 2km away, the ground trembled, a cloud of atomized sand persisted on the site for an hour. The Seagulls bailed and didn't come back to this day. Some guy heard it and called the coast guard. They came, looked around and left. Intense.
Cant way to do it again.

There is allot to develop here. Unfortunately my summer vacations are over and I must go back to college.
I hope some of you will find this worthwhile to look into and continue to engineer this idea.

Looking forward for feedback!
Cheers.

Bert - 5-10-2015 at 08:16

I assume you used Copper wire for both the firing leads and the spark gap? What wire gauge/circular mils? What insulation type & Volt rating-

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/awg-wire-gauge-circular-mi...

Aurium - 5-10-2015 at 11:58

Thanks Bert, I forgot to mention the cables.

For the running cables, Wires A & B, I used speaker cable of about 17 AWG (1mm) dia. or so, I do not remember the exact gauge.
I found these cables to have no problem propagating the High Voltage, surprisingly.
The speaker wire cables come as if glued to each other, two wires in one strand, I kept them like this because two close parallel wires, with opposite currents, will show less self-inductance than the same two wires at a distance from each other.
These cables were made of an copper and aluminum alloy.

For the spark gap leads I used that thin, single strand electronics jumper wires (forgive my english).
Like these, about 22 AWG.
Jumper wire

This is essentially a RLC circuit (capacitor, running cables, spark gap), and my goal is to maximize the power pulse to the spark gap.
Now, on my opinion, the resistance component of the circuit is very very low and negligible.
The plasma formed by the spark gap is indeed very conductive, film capacitors have low ERS, and the cables resistance is very low, certainly not the current limiting factor.
I believe that it is the cable's inductance, Wires B, from the capacitor to the spark gap, that limits the current.
As a general approximation the cables used have about 300nH per meter.

A quick simulation on LTspice will show the importance of cable length on maximum power.
The same applies for an EBW.

Also I forgot to mention,
each of these detonators were filled with about 0.1g of ETN,
quite a loud bang, and enough to shatter plastic and dent metal.
And I did make another test,

1uF MOC + 15m Wire B, worked. Only one test.

[Edited on 5-10-2015 by Aurium]

careysub - 6-10-2015 at 07:21

Quote: Originally posted by Aurium

SGD

I came across the idea of detonating ETN with a EBW detonator (Exploding Bridge Wire), I decided to give a try to the concept after failing to ignite my ETN with simple resistive pyro igniters.

Reading around the web and the forum on the look for a theory about the mechanism of an EBW, I developed my own theory, that the thin wire itself was not the igniting mechanism, but instead it was the very hot and very conductive plasma gap created after the wire vaporizes that triggers the explosive.

First off, I am unsure why you titled your post "spark gap detonator" when you do not discuss spark gap detonators at all (an EBW is not a spark gap detonator which is a different beast).

The principles of EBW operation are very well understood, and you are correct in thinking that the post wire explosion plasma is important in a good design.

Look at the current trace in this article:
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/500/19/1...

You will see that the current dips as the wire vaporizes then rises again as the plasma bridge becomes established, achieving a new high in the explosion energy.

I saw on-line earlier this year a nifty engineering handbook about exploding bridgewire detanators that set forth the established design pattern used commercially (it has gotten dialed in to a very standard configuration for the firing set). It also discussed all aspects of its principles of operation. Unfortunately in Googling I cannot now locate it. But perhaps someone else can find it again (I will keep trying).

Aurium - 6-10-2015 at 07:54

Exactly. The plasma channel formed after the wire vaporizes is crucial for an EBW.

In my design however there is no thin wire at all connecting the two leads. Instead, the capacitor charges to a voltage high enough for a discharge to jump across the leads. Hence the plasma channel is immediately formed and current rushes through it. A spark gap.

No energy is wasted vaporizing a thin wire, which allows for smaller capacitors. (Best so far was 0.1uF)

Nice article btw.

[Edited on 6-10-2015 by Aurium]

[Edited on 6-10-2015 by Aurium]

[Edited on 6-10-2015 by Aurium]

careysub - 6-10-2015 at 10:35

Quote: Originally posted by Aurium

Exactly. The plasma channel formed after the wire vaporizes is crucial for an EBW.

In my design however there is no thin wire at all connecting the two leads. Instead, the capacitor charges to a voltage high enough for a discharge to jump across the leads. Hence the plasma channel is immediately formed and current rushes through it. A spark gap.

No energy is wasted vaporizing a thin wire, which allows for smaller capacitors. (Best so far was 0.1uF)

My bad.

I did not read your design carefully enough - I thought the unifilliar wire was used as a bridge.

roXefeller - 7-10-2015 at 13:55

Excellent post. If only all first timer threads looked this well documented (mine wasn't). Have you given much thought to what other materials you could try?

Aurium - 8-10-2015 at 02:09

Thanks rox. Coming from a physics backgroud I can say I can write science

.
I invented this detonator out of necessity so I could ignite more difficult explosives like rdx tnt anfo etc, without having to use dangerous peroxides since I really don't have the chemicals to make safer primaries.
Out the back of my head I can imagine about trying this detonator filled with TNT or even RDX or an AN mixture. Who knows.
So I'll have 2 more days in the lab to make more experiments, from tomorrow. I don't have time to make rdx or tnt but I might try an AN mix. I should try to get it as sensitive as possible first. What do you recommend?
For that big one I made I used 5% Mg powder and 5% methanol but maybe there's something better than that.

Bert - 8-10-2015 at 03:46

Quote:

For that big one I made I used 5% Mg powder and 5% methanol but maybe there's something better than that.

To what does "that big one" refer?

I would not store pure, uncoated Mg powder in contact with ANY oxidizer, it may very well self ignite- Especially with a hygroscopic, reactive oxidizer such as ammonium nitrate.

In pyrotechnics, Mg powder is sometimes coated with boiled linseed oil and allowed to dry in a wide, flat, paper lined tray with frequent stirring. The coating with polymerized oil is sufficient protection for some storage life with Potassium perchlorate, Barium or Strontium nitrates, but is deemed insufficient for use with ammonium perchlorate.z

For use with ammonium perchlorate, Mg or Mg/Al alloy metal powders may be coated with dichromate as protection instead. See Takeo Shimizu, Fireworks: The Art, Science and Technique for details.

http://www.scribd.com/mobile/doc/14654551/Fireworks-the-Art-...

Ammonium nitrate:Aluminum at about 90:10 is about as sensitive as is safely achieved without such things as the HE's you say you don't have time for- But the critical diameter is MUCH larger than your low density PETN.

NPED

Laboratory of Liptakov - 9-10-2015 at 07:00

Quote: Originally posted by Aurium

I invented this detonator out of necessity so I could ignite more difficult explosives like rdx tnt anfo etc, without having to use dangerous peroxides since I really don't have the chemicals to make safer primaries.
Out the back of my head I can imagine about trying this detonator filled with TNT or even RDX or an AN mixture.

A nice piece of work. I mean no fun. Really good work. High voltage, ETN, everything is nice. But if need detonator without primary substance is this:

Or another suggestion: Use the same substance in a slim package. Without pressing. According to the scheme: ETN 75, aluminum 15, and nitrocellulose (12,4N) 5%. The results will be even better. Lower voltage will suffice. In this system, is voltage 6V/1A, thus classic power supply.
Dr. Liptakov

Aurium - 9-10-2015 at 12:26

Bert:

Quote:

To what does "that big one" refer?

I was referring to the 400g AN mixture I detonated at the beach a week ago. I write about near the end of my original post. But yes I guess "big" is relative

.
I had no idea Mg powder could react cold with AN. At the time I used it because I didn't have Al powder. I'll be sure to buy some Al powder and use that instead, next time.
The article you posted is interesting and will sure be useful in the future.
I used to make small skyrockets back in my early days, sadly only a few ever made it upwards.

Liptakov

Thanks! I really appreciate it!
That's exactly what I was trying to achieve at first, using inexpensive pyro igniters to get the ETN going. I did even use Al powder but I ultimately failed.
But yea I'll have that formulation with NC when I have some time in the lab. Looks quite complex to make though

.

I went back home for the weekend and I took some photos (nothing new).
Here you can see,
6V battery for HV module, 9V battery for timer, HV module, timer relay, 0.1uF capacitor bank, the speaker cables connecting everything and the detonator.

I also tested:

- 15m wire B, no capacitors at all (just the HV module's internal capacitor), Failed.
- 15m wire B, 0.1uF, Failed. It just popped and the ETN was shot out, even leaving the casing intact. Nothing like the full loud detonations I was getting.
- 2m wire B, 0.1uF, OK. Again.

Any suggestions of more experiments with this setup? I have one more day at the lab.

Aurium - 9-10-2015 at 14:09

Yea I'v been reading the thread about the NPED.
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=24817

I'd love to know more on your work on these NPED detonators Liptakov.
I doubt the SGD has any real value outside the world of hobbyists with whom I am happy to share my findings, but I'v read about pending patents in that post, which boosts another level of interest.
Then again, a 0.1uF film capacitor rated a few kV would cost cents, and the HVPS is a few dollars, making the system sacrificial if there is no chance to recover it. So... maybe?

EDITED

Nevermind. I found the patent for this idea and it dates back to the 1950's.

Quote:

Detonating apparatus
US 3955505 A
Link

It seems it was an idea for the detonators used in nuclear weapons but got replaced by EBW systems.
I was right on the money with the 0.1uF at 5kV eheh.
Anyways, despite not being novel, now these forums know about it.

[Edited on 10-10-2015 by Aurium]

roXefeller - 9-10-2015 at 17:15

With those firing wire lengths, you're just fighting physics. The common fixes are more potent discharges through the wire (reduced somewhat with larger diameter wire), or local/sacrificial discharge capacitors that are charged/triggered through the firing wire. That's one of the benefits of det cord, when your distance is too long for your wire diameter. Since you are avoiding primaries but are handy with equipment, maybe try a det cord machine...

Bert - 10-10-2015 at 05:56

Set up the final output stage of electronics at a distance such that it is not guaranteed to be "sacrificial", then use an improvised signal cord to transfer detonation to main charge?

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=33395

http://youtu.be/ZnMqOF28STM

ETN as non primary detonator

Laboratory of Liptakov - 10-10-2015 at 06:26

For Berta system is necessary to comply with these conditions: metal - 1 mm thick. Steel, or copper, 6 mm inner diameter. Initiation point (resistance wire) if possible small size. This is seen in the video here: ....... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZiQ9LCRzeg .....Further, it is necessary to keep the grain size. It is best to 2x2m. For quick burn. Like gunpowder. Large clean grains, no fine dust. It is a general principle. For you, it is an important principle of performance. This is clearly visible in the video. In the video used a different blend. After many tests it appeared that TeACP not needed. Only ETN75 -80, 15 -20 and aluminum NC 5 -10. as a binder. Melting point of the mixture is not 60C, but 90C. When 90C (with 10% NC2) this mixture as a soft rubber. For this is a simple explanation. Above 60C is ETN liquid, in other words, liquid nitro ester. Liquid nitro ester (or nitro compound) form mixed with NC gelatin. The difference is that for the ETN / NC must work with an ambient temperature above 60C. But I digress from the issue. A detonator system Berta obviously filled at room temperature. Important is that the internal grain structure is maintained at 60C. For example, in direct sunlight. The test results are equally large holes in 2 mm steel plate, in diameter 7-8 mm.
In the video used mechanical pressing. This is not necessary. The output segment is clean ETN is pressed at 140 kg. It is not a condition. Suffice 70 kg. Furthermore, 70 kg, 35, 10 and so on according to the diagram. For these pressures sufficient scale to weigh people.
Dr. Liptakov

Metacelsus - 10-10-2015 at 06:49

For the problem of transmitting the electricity, you might need to take wavelike behavior into account for the longer wire lengths. Your voltage input can be reasonably approximated by a step function. If 10 MHz is a rough estimate of the highest important frequency component (i.e, the capacitor discharges in ~100 ns or less), then the wavelength will be around 30 m.

For two ideal wires 1 cm (rough estimate) apart (in air, dielectric constant 1) and 0.5 mm in radius, I calculate a characteristic impedance of 443 ohms, with an inductance of 148 pH/m and a capacitance of 0.7531 fF/m. The relevant thing here would be the step response of the transmission line.

But this is just an approximation. Do you have an oscilloscope that you can test with? (Obviously, don't put the explosives in when you do that.)

One other thing: It would be an interesting replacement for detcord to use the output of an explosively pumped flux compression generator to set off more explosives.

Aurium - 10-10-2015 at 13:27

Bert, Rox:
Sounds like a plan. I'v been trying to make detcord for a while but failed pathetically ahah. Next time available I might try again, following other member's work. Looks like allot of fun.
To the tests I made at the beach I used 15m Wire A and 3m Wire B, I then enclosed the MOC in a Tupperware and buried in the sand close to the charge, this was enough to protect it from 400g ANFO.

Liptakov:
I must say I really admire your commitment to the NPED! I wish I had came across your post earlier and I would have tried it this summer.
I wonder if it could be made to work with regular Visco fuse, reliably.

Cheese:
Indeed I did not consider any RF phenomena.
What I did was I first estimated the wires self-inductance using this app:
http://www.eeweb.com/toolbox/parallel-wire-inductance/
on Parallel Wires 1mm dia. 3mm distance, 100cm length and it farts 700nH/m.
Now I plug that into LTspice.
For a 1uF cap, 2meters of this wire, a 100mOhm resistor as a model for the spark gap, and I get an oscillating frequency of under 200kHz (5us). Very different from the 10Mhz you estimate..
So how are you calculating wire inductance?

Nah I don't have an oscilloscope, but I do plan on getting one for myself next summer. I guess I can take it to college and ask my electronics teacher to use the electronics lab. A tad suspicious eh. It should be fine though, people here don't panic over a clock

.

Yeah I have my mind set on making a explosively pumped flux compression generator when I get the chance!
Explosives and High Voltage do ride together very well with interesting results :cool:

Metacelsus - 10-10-2015 at 15:47

Quote: Originally posted by Aurium

Parallel Wires 1mm dia. 3mm distance, 100cm length and it farts 700nH/m.
Now I plug that into LTspice.
For a 1uF cap, 2meters of this wire, a 100mOhm resistor as a model for the spark gap, and I get an oscillating frequency of under 200kHz (5us). Very different from the 10Mhz you estimate..
So how are you calculating wire inductance?]

First, I used different numbers (1 cm spacing), so I got different results for the inductance. For 3 mm spacing, I get 705 nH/m, which is close to what you got.

The 10 MHz isn't a resonant frequency. Since the step function is not a sinusoid, it can be thought of as an infinite series of multiple different frequencies (a Fourier transform, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaviside_step_function#Fourie...). What I was saying was that frequencies higher than 10 MHz probably aren't important. I would have to know the precise characteristics of the capacitor (ESR, ESL, etc.) to give a precise analysis.

Also, I would model the spark gap as an open circuit. If the model gives a voltage greater than the breakdown voltage, then the device is reasonably likely to work. However, if the problem you have is that the gap makes a spark, but not at high enough current, then modeling the spark gap as a low-value resistive load makes sense.

[Edited on 10-10-2015 by Cheddite Cheese]

Bert - 10-10-2015 at 17:38

I do see some applications for this, not in demolition or quarry work, where the charges are large and the leads would need to be long- But for special effects work in studios, miniatures & similar video work. The leads need not be long on a video set/green room, and I like the possibility of tailoring small PETN charges for each specific application with no handling of primary explosives, no expensive commercial blasting caps and no metal detonator caseings to fragment and potentially damage sets/equipment/crew.

Aurium - 11-10-2015 at 13:03

Bert

I'd though about special effects as well Bert. Yea these detonators can be made very very small. So far I'v used only 0.1g but one would guess it can be made to work just as well with even just 10mg or so.
The smaller capacitors and low charging current = thinner or even invisible wires or smaller batteries, and it shouldn't be hard to make a radio or IR controlled SGD.
Sadly, there isn't much of a movie industry here but I can try to ask around people connected to theater maybe to see I can pick up an interest.

Cheese

Now it makes sense.
You had mention 148 pH/m on your previous post, an order of magnitude less than my estimate. Maybe a typo or bad conversion to meters?
Still, I can't figure why it is of your belief that we have a step function here.
I use this model:

V1 charges the cap to the 5kV, then V2 goes high, which causes SW1 to connect. Like a spark gap, no current when no arc, ~100mOhm resistance when the arc is formed.
But then again I really have no idea what value to use for the spark gap resistance.

Grantr - 21-10-2015 at 07:28

Aurium,

Thanks for giving me the link to your setup. Is the purpose of the timer so you can set it and get away before the charging begins? I am thinking of using a radio remote control to fire my unit. I already have plenty of R/C airplane electronics.

How wide is the spark gap? It looks like it is just under 3mm by the drawing. The patent you referenced had a spark gap of less than 1mm and the HE pressed to 100lbs of force. Your unit fires it self when the voltage is high enough correct?

Are you using any diodes to protect the HV supply?

Aurium - 21-10-2015 at 08:08

No problem. Thanks for bringing it up.

Yea the timer is really simple to use, when the relay closes it activates the HV module which starts charging the capacitors, once the capacitor voltage is high enough a discharge forms inside the detonator and caboom.

I used around 3 or 4mm spacing I don't think it matters too much. The firing voltage will change of course. I have to try with smaller gaps, see if I can reduce the voltage required.

Like I said, I didn't compress my ETN at all, just pushed it in, low density.

And I didn't use diodes. These HV modules are surprisingly tough.

But hey report back if you use the airplane RC system! Sounds like a great idea if you can get good range.
Do mind safety, people have died due to false RF signals when setting up the charge. Then again this is up to you.

Grantr - 21-10-2015 at 09:22

Aurium,

I plan to use at least an 8 meter B line. I may use a rg6 coaxial for this and then use speaker and or lead wire for the spark gap.

I will use a servo to activate a push button switch to turn on the Hv supply.

2.4 ghz radio systems are resistant to false RF signals. Unlike the old 72mhz systems than used crystals and were prone to glitches from RF interference from sparkplugs and other random RF interference.

Grantr - 21-10-2015 at 10:41

I just ordered this HV Power supply and four of these HV film Caps. I should get this in a few days i hope. I also have a .7uf 2100 volt MOC that I can add to these caps to have 7300 volts. I plan to just use the 4 caps in series.

This should make a strong spark. A bit overkill I suppose.

Hennig Brand - 24-10-2015 at 11:49

Found an interesting page with information on this topic:
http://nuclear-knowledge.com/detonators.php
I bolded the section on spark-gap detonators.

"
Detonators

Detonators are used to initiate explosives where it is necessary to create a shockwave.
Creating a symmetric implosion shockwave for a nuclear weapon needs close
synchronization when the detonators are fired. The tolerance for timing differences is very
low: of the order of 100 nanoseconds is necessary.

With a conventional detonator, a wire is electrically heated. This causes a small quantity of a
sensitive primary explosive to detonate (for example lead azide, mercury fulminate etc). The
primary explosive then initiates a secondary explosive (for example PETN or tetryl), which
then fires the main high explosive charge.

This process of electrically heating the wire, and then heat conduction to the primary
explosive until it reaches detonation temperature, needs several milliseconds - and there
may be large timing errors. This means that conventional detonators do not have the
necessary timing exactness to fire an implosion system in a nuclear weapon.

Exploding Bridgewire Detonators (EBW)

Nuclear weapon implosion systems need nanosecond accuracy for firing the detonators and
exploding bridgewire (EBW) detonators are often used. One method to reduce the duration
of action of the detonator is to send a sudden powerful surge of electric current through a
very thin wire of gold or platinum in a specially designed detonator. The current heats the
wire until the point of vaporization. This specially designed EBW technique was invented by
Luis Alvarez at Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project.

Current surge rise times of a fraction of a microsecond are possible, and a spread in
detonation times can be several nanoseconds. This is sufficiently exact for very low
tolerance applications such as firing explosive lenses in nuclear weapons.

EBW detonator

It is possible to employ an exploding bridgewire detonator to initiate a primary explosive
which is usually lead azide exactly like in a conventional detonator. However, if the surge of
electrical current is sufficiently powerful, the exploding bridgewire can directly initiate a less
sensitive booster explosive like PETN. One advantage of this method is that there is much
less risk of accidental activation by heat, stray currents, or static electricity than for a
conventional detonator. Very fast and powerful surges of electrical current are necessary to
fire the detonators and initiate a less sensitive explosive though. This type of exploding
bridgewire detonator is one of the safest types of detonators known to scientists.

The disadvantage is that a typical EBW needs very fast and powerful surges of 5,000 volts,
with a peak current which consists of at least 500-1000 amps. Several kiloamps is more
typical for most EBW detonators, however a multi-EBW system would probably try to
minimize the current needed. It is possible to get timing accuracies which are better than 10
nanoseconds with sufficient attention in detonator design and construction. EBWs were
used in the American Trinity "Gadget" device. The EBW and the slapper detonator are the
safest known types of detonator.

Slapper Detonators

There are a number of more recent detonator designs which are based on exploding foils
which have been developed. Exploding foil detonators use a different design concept from
EBWs: this is called a slapper detonator. This is also sometimes called an exploding foil
initiator (EFI).

This idea was developed in America and elsewhere in the world. It uses the expanding foil
plasma to drive another thin foil or plastic film "flyer" to high velocity across a gap, which
initiates the explosive by means of impacting the surface at high velocity.

Slapper detonators are quite efficient for the conversion of electrical energy into kinetic
energy in the flyer. It can be possible to achieve 25-30% energy transfer. This delivers the
energy needed to initiate a detonation of the explosive.

A typical slapper detonator consists of an explosive pellet which is pressed to a high density
in order to gain maximum strength. It is also possible to use polymer bonded explosives for
this. There is an insulation disk which has a hole in the center next to the explosive pellet
and the hole is set against the explosive pellet. An insulating flyer film (for example Kapton
or Mylar) with a metal foil etched to one side is placed against the disk. A narrowed section
of the etched foil serves as the bridgewire.

The large current firing pulse causes the narrowed section of the foil to become vaporized.
Then this breaks the insulated flyer which accelerates down the barrel of the disk and
impacts the explosive pellet. As a result this impact transmits a shock wave into the
explosive which causes it to detonate.

A slapper detonator has the advantage of the ability to initiate an area of the explosive
surface rather than a singular point. It is possible that this will make the design of compact
implosion systems easier.

This system has several advantages in comparison with the EBW detonator:
•The metal bridge becomes completely separated from the explosive by means of an
insulating film and an air gap (the bridgewire of an EBW detonator is in direct contact
with the explosive)
•It is possible to pack the explosive to a very high density
•The amount of energy which is needed to fire the detonator is less
•Very insensitive explosives can be detonated - this is extremely difficult with regard
to an EBW detonator

Typically the detonator bridgewire which is used in EBWs consists of highly pure gold or
platinum, is 20-50 microns wide and about 1 mm long. PETN is normally used as the
explosive, possibly with a tetryl booster charge. Slapper detonators use metal foils (usually
aluminum, but gold foil would work well also) which are put on a thin plastic film (this is
usually Kapton). A wider variety of primary explosives can be used. PETN or HMX may have
been used in slappers in earlier weapon systems, but weapons using insensitive high
explosives probably use the explosive HNS which is very stable to heat.

Spark-Gap Detonators

The spark-gap detonator is another type of very fast detonator. It employs a high voltage
(approximately 5,000 V) spark which is created across a narrow gap to initiate a primary
explosive. Using a very sensitive primary explosive (like lead azide or lead styphnate) the
amount of current necessary is relatively small; a small-sized capacitor can supply enough
power.

The main disadvantage for this type of detonator design is that it is quite unsafe. Static
charges or other induced currents can very easily fire a spark gap detonator by accident. For
this reason it is unlikely that they have been used in deployed nuclear weapons.

Spark-gap detonators use primary explosives like a normal (non-fast-acting) detonator. A
normal detonator uses a metal filament in contact with primary explosive. An electric
current heats the metal filament until it gets extremely hot (red) and heat transfers to the
near primary explosive by conduction. The explosive then detonates.

However, a spark-gap detonator has two electrodes with a gap between them, which is filled
with primary explosive. An electric spark is passed across this gap and this spark detonates
the explosive. It is extremely fast-acting and gives high timing exactness with a multi-
detonator system because it is not necessary to rely on thermal conduction of heat to
initiate the explosive.

Because primary explosives are used, it is not necessary for the spark to be particularly high
energy. Primary explosives can be detonated easily from a low energy input.

These types of detonators are used in the Russian RPG-7 HEAT ammunition. The
ammunition has a nose mounted piezoelectric part. When it strikes something hard it gives a
pulse of electricity. They are ideal for this type of application, because the ammunition is
needed to function immediately when it strikes the target.

Scientists examined the use of spark-gap detonators in the Manhattan Project and the Indian
Nuclear program, but they were replaced by EBWs, as a result of safety questions.

Power Sources

For these types of detonators special power sources are necessary to produce the large
current surges which are needed.

For a nuclear weapon, a quite compact and light high-speed pulse power supply is
necessary for the detonation system. A power source which is very powerful and able to discharge
extremely quickly is necessary to achieve accurate timing and a fast response. Fast, accurate
and reliable switching components are also needed, and it is also necessary to manage the
inductance of the whole system.

The usual method for providing the power for an EBW multi-detonator system is through the
discharge of a high capacitance, high voltage, low inductance capacitor through a suitable
switch and into the bridgewire. The voltage range which is necessary is on the order of
several kilovolts (5 KV is normal). Silicone oil filled capacitors with the use of Kraft paper,
polypropylene, or Mylar dielectrics are suitable, ceramic-type capacitors are also. Compact
power supplies for charging capacitors are easy to acquire.

The capacitor also needs a switch which can handle high voltages and currents. The switch
must also be able to transition from a safe, non-conducting state to a fully conducting state
very rapidly, and without adding unnecessary inductance to the circuit.

A variety of switch technologies is available: triggered spark gaps, krytrons, sprytrons,
thyratrons and explosive switches are some which can be used.

KN2 Kryton switch tube

Triggered spark gaps are sealed devices which are filled with high pressure air, argon, or SF6.
A non-conducting gap between electrodes becomes closed by means of applying a triggering
potential to a wire or grid in the gap. Typically, compact versions of these devices rate at 20-
100 KV, and 50-150 kiloamps, and the triggering potential is one-half to one-third the
maximum voltage. Switch current rise times last 10-100 nanoseconds.

Krytrons are a type of cold-cathode trigger discharge tubes which are filled with gas. The gas
is normally hydrogen, although it is possible to use krypton. Some of these contain a small
amount of Ni-63, which is a weak beta emitter which keeps the gas in a slightly ionized state.
Applying a trigger voltage causes an ionization cascade to close the switch. They are used as
an extremely high speed switch. These devices have maximum voltage ratings from 3 to 10
KV, and peak current rating of 300-3000 amps. This makes them unsuitable for directly firing
multiple EBW detonators. Krytrons are employed commercially in powerful xenon flash lamp
systems, and have other uses. They have faster response times than other types of trigger
discharge tubes.

The vacuum variant is called a vacuum krytron or sprytron. It is very similar and has a very
high radiation resistance. Sprytrons have faster switching times than krytrons. It is probably
the sprytron that is used in nuclear weapons.

Detonators in nuclear weapons are normally wired in parallel for reliability and to reduce
inductance. In the American "Fat Man" atomic bomb scientists wired the detonators in
parallel in triggered spark-gap circuits. There were four detonating circuits. Any two of these
circuits provided enough power for all 32 detonators. Each detonator was wired to two
different circuits in order that a failure of any one detonator circuit would not affect the
implosion. The whole system was fired by a spark-gap cascade. The triggered spark-gap
supplied a current surge to fire the four main circuits at the same time."

Grantr - 24-10-2015 at 16:01

I had some success with getting the spark gap to work. I do not have any ETN to try it. I hope to make some tomorrow.

I am using these Capacitors, two of these HV diodes and this HV power supply to make my unit. I have 4 of the caps in series for a total of 1.25UF and a rated voltage of 5200 volts. The little power supply packs a punch. It sounds like a stun gun and will easily make about 1/2 inch arcs.

I am powering it with 2 AA batteries 3.0 volts. The largest arc I have tried was with a 6.5 mm center to center gap with the solid copper wire leads. I have no idea what the voltage is. It will blow a piece of paper open that is wrapped around the gap. This is fired through 16 feet of 16 gauge speaker wire.

I tired the r 6 cable and kept getting arc over on the end closed to the caps. I could not find where it was arcing over. I did leave the connectors on the cable and solder my speaker wires to it. I am thinking the ends need to be removed and the shield wire stripped back some to make this work.

I am using 4mm coroplast sign board to make my detonators. I attached a few pictures. The unit is not complete as i need a battery holder and a switch. I am using balsa wood for the box.

Hennig Brand - 25-10-2015 at 16:32

Aurium, nice write-up about an interesting concept. I haven't done the actual tests but the distributed parameter model I used in the EBW thread would indicate that 0.1uF could work for an EBW system as well.
Some interesting experiments here!

Aurium - 25-10-2015 at 17:33

Thanks Hennig.
To be honest, what led me to develop this idea was because I just couldn't get the damn thin wire to vaporize in the first place

. Oh well history repeats itself.
I do believe 0.1uF could make an EBW work, dependent on the wire distance ofc.
I'd love to try this SGD with smaller capacitors, say 0.025uF, very very near the detonator itself, a sacrificial capacitor. Sadly I'm currently away from my lab.
Oh and thanks for finding me that article on http://nuclear-knowledge.com/detonators.php. Some interesting insights for sure. I had no idea the RPG-7 used a piezoelectric igniter.

Maybe Grant here can continue my experiments!
I'm not sure about your idea using that coroplast sign board for the detonator's body. Why not use a thin tube like I did?
And how are you using the diodes? The output from the HV module is already DC.
Anyway the box looks great! Sure beats my tupperware! Can't wait to see the finished project!

Grantr - 25-10-2015 at 17:40

I am using the diodes to keep the caps from trying to discharge into the HV supply. I guess I really do not need them since it is only on until it fires the gap.

I did get the ETN made. I just need it to dry out and then recrystallize. Its still like wet tothpaste now. I wish i could find a quick way to dry it.

Grantr - 27-10-2015 at 17:28

I tested the spark gap and it failed to set off the ETN with 16 feet of speaker wire. I tried it 3 times. The 3rd time fried my caps as I cant get any arc now and the caps do not hold energy after the charger is turned off. The ETN did blow away from the leads so i did get an arc in the ETN.

One cap does not read hardly any capacitance however the other 3 read the rated capacitance but they don't seem to work. I tried each one indivudially and only one half way worked. The HV power supply still makes a nice arc when wired directly to the spark gap.

I hammer tested the ETN and then did the foil test with a cotton ball on fire a small pinch lightly packed in a aluminum foil tube the diameter of a 17hmr case and about 1/4" long made a loud sharp report the flatten the cotton ball.

I am going to order more caps and try the bride wire and an adjustable spark gap to fire it.

Aurium - 27-10-2015 at 18:33

A simple way to test the caps is to measure innternal resistance. If its very low its busted. Put a spark gap in parallel and adjust it to the max voltage of your caps. I broke a MOC because of this.

As far as I can see wrong with your experiments was that maybe the ETN was not recrystalized in methanol, pressed in too tight or the firing gap was too long.
It was an iterative process making it work for me, but my design works flawlessly now and its pretty forgiving of randomness.
If you could share the way your detonators turned out perhaps I can see the problem and help you with it.

Grantr - 28-10-2015 at 14:48

Aurium,

Cap are busted. No resistance measurement on them!

I did recrystallized in denatured Alcohol which is about 50/50 mix of ethanol and methanol. The electrodes were set in the 4mm tube and the ETN was pushed down with a wood skewer lightly until I could not see the tip of the electrodes.

Aurium - 29-10-2015 at 14:05

That is odd,

Well, my best guess is the arc was not happening through the ETN and maybe just under it since you are sure you drowned the electrodes in it.
I made a couple of attempts having the arc just above the ETN, just say 0.5mm, and it just shot out the ETN. When I made sure the spark did go through it I had full reliability.
So is it possible the arc was forming under the ETN? Maybe some air gap between the ETN powder and the back of the detonator?
I'm sure you got it but maybe you'r overlooking some fine detail.

Apart from that: I never tried ethanol mixed with methanol, maybe that does invalidate my design.
My "recrystallization" I simply dissolved the ETN in hot MeOH, then cooled it, then added allot of water to the beaker until the ETN precipitated down.
So I'm abusing the notion of recrystallization here. It's possible that the way I treated the ETN gave me a lower density than what you did, and that that is critical to the design.

I feel tempted to criticize your capacitors. I imagine they'r not the problem, but I used axial motor rated PP film capacitors. These are the kind of caps hobbyists use to build induction heaters, so maybe there is a practical difference between these and yours.

Argh.. really wish I had access to my lab right now, to experiment and see if I missed some fine important detail.

Grantr - 30-10-2015 at 18:18

Well I failed to get this to work again and fried the caps again trying to get more power. It did work only one time with the spark gap. I taped the gap to a piece of plastic sign board and poured some ETN on the gap and taped the ETN over the electrodes. That popped. I wrapped paper around the electrodes and filled with ETN. Paper exploded dumping the ETN. I tried 40 gauge bridge wires with the same results.

I tried it with ETN in a 3/4" Diameter pvc pipe with the spark gap in the middle of a pile of ETN. All I got was white fumes and some ETN sparying out.

I have no idea where to go from here. I am thing of feeding the microwave oven xformer output directily into a pile of ETN. I think that will set it off however that is overkill and will not work well for me.

I did set a series spark gap so I could fire the caps when i wanted to. I used a screw driver to slide in the gap to cause it to arc over.

Grantr - 2-11-2015 at 08:07

I tried a spark gap powered directly from the MOT stuck down in a lose pile of ETN. The output tripped my 15 amp breaker after about 5 seconds. I tired it again two more times. One very slight pop was all that happened. I inspected the tube later to find the arc had melted a large amount of the ETN. Some of it was still powdered.

I also tried stainless Aviation safety wire stuck down in some lose ETN. It just caught on fire and burned. The wire would glow white hot with 12 volts.

ETN apparently has to have just the right energy input to get it to detonate. I did have a small pile rolled in foil and set on fire make a loud bang and knock a board it was sitting by back about 20 feet. Setting it on fire is very hit and miss.

Aurium - 2-11-2015 at 09:07

MOTs are awesome right!
Still I don't think you'll have much luck using one to trigger the ETN.
I just can't yet guess why you hadn't any success with the setup I detail here. By your description everything's right.
The one thing I'm not sure about is the density of your ETN.
Try recrystallizing like I said in my previous post, maybe that'll lower it's density and give you better results with the spark gap method.
Also, how does your ETN "look" when compared to my pile I show in the header post?
Good luck

Grantr - 2-11-2015 at 13:26

Yea MOT is crazy! I am going to use it with the voltage doubler to get 4200 volts so I hopefully do not burn up my new caps. Do you know if a MOT's high output current will damage the caps? Four 5uf 1300 volt caps in series will have the voltage capabilities.

I think my ETN looks about the same. Feels light and fluffy.

[Edited on 2-11-2015 by Grantr]

Grantr - 9-11-2015 at 05:49

I had one successfully attempt with a MOC cap at 2100 volts and a spark gap in the ETN. A small 4mm tube of about .3 grams ETN made a loud report like a pistol with the tube blown to pieces. Since then no success other than slight pops that rupture the tube or blow then ends out.

I am going to try these capacitors since I do not think high capacitance is needed. I assume these can discharge faster than the 5uf caps I tried before. I will run two in series at 2kv or 3 in series at 4kv.

Attached is a pic of my recrystallized ETN. I think it is low density.

Aurium - 9-11-2015 at 10:14

Good to hear you finally had some success!
If I were you I'd try to make it work every time with the MOC first, and only then try using lower capacitors. Too big of a cap is not a problem, nor too short of a cable.

Those eBay caps say they're 6200pF. Thats 6.2 nF isn't that a bit low?

From the photo you took your ETN looks still a bit higher density than mine, maybe its the insufficient light in the photo but mine looks more flaky than yours.

2100 V is low. I know you busted your caps due to overvoltage but with the MOC you can go up to 10kV. Remove it's bleeder resistor and use the HV module to charge it. To avoid overvoltage build a variable spark gap in parallel with the capacitor.
Start with a short gap and then tune it up and up until the capacitor is able to reach enough voltage for the SGD.

Good luck!

Grantr - 9-11-2015 at 11:23

How did you recrystallize to get low density? Did you heat the alcohol to 50C or so and crash the hot solution in ice water?

Aurium - 9-11-2015 at 11:58

Yep.
Heat the methanol first before adding the ETN. Then just throw it in excess cold water.
See if this makes the trick.

Grantr - 9-11-2015 at 12:31

Ok I did not do it that way. I let the hot mix cool some and then dumped into excess cool near room temp water. I used 350ml alcohol to the 30 grams of ETN I obtained.

I have 2 MOTs and 2 MOCs. I will connect the MOC in series and feed 4kv to them for a better test.

Success!

Grantr - 10-11-2015 at 19:53

Hot damn you were right my ETN was too dense! I heated the denatured alcohol to 60c and added the ETN while stirring until all dissolved. I then crashed in a beaker of crushed ice water while stirring.

The product drys into thin light weight snow like sheets of ETN . When crushed up the crystals are super small.

I used one MOT feeding into the voltage doubler from the microwave to get 4kv. The 4kv charged another .8 uf MOC with the internal resistor removed. A spark gap triggered by a screw driver fires the circuit. Two solid wire leds are pushed into 2mm coroplast to secure them and provide a gap of about 2mm. This is pushed lightly into the top of the lose ETN in the straw and taped in place.

The test caps was made form a large drinking straw from McDonalds. I cut 4 of them to different lengths not exceeding 1 inch. 4 test gave me 4 detonations. Very sharp boom. I used an 1/16" think .75 X .75 inch aluminum C channel as a witness plate. The plate was punched through by the cap. This cap had about 1/4 inch of hand pressed ETN in the bottom sitting on the plate. A piece of straw fits the dent perfectly.

I did not weigh the charges.

Bert - 11-11-2015 at 08:12

One technique for producing very fine crystals of explosive materials for use in det cords, plastique, caps or such is to pump the hot solution through a spray nozzle adjusted to make very fine droplets, into a relatively large volume of rapidly stirred ice water. There are patents on using this method to make RDX crystals fine enough to serve in rather low loading det cords. Smaller crystals/lower density seem to be what you're after here...

It is useful to include a scale of some type next to affected areas in pictures of damage done to witness plates- And weighing & recording quantities of materials used should be standard procedure.

Aurium - 11-11-2015 at 10:55

I'm happy to know that you'v had success there Grant!

It was my bad though, I never tried processing the ETN any other way but the one I described above, and so I did know how important this was.

- Anyway now we know that very low density ETN is required.
- Dissolving the ETN in hot alcohol (or acetone maybe) and then crashing it into ice water is the best way to achieve this.

I see you made your setup to be triggered mechanically.
I never tried including a trigger device, but millisecond triggering would be interesting for experiments with unique shaped charges and for Fuel-air explosives.
I can imagine a simple three electrode trigatron made with a HV supply like the HV module I showed or some other ignition coil type device for millisecond control as with any EBW setup.

Keep testing those SGDs!
I'll be glad to hear if you find something new about them.

Bert

That's quite a special method that I had never heard about!
I'll have to try it next time I make ETN.
I can only think of a bottle of window cleaner as a simple way to spray the mixture into fine droplets. The processing rate would be painfully slow though.

Grantr - 11-11-2015 at 19:02

Bert,

The next set of test I will give more data. I wanted to run a few more test 1st before weighing charges and so on. Interesting to spray a fine mist into the cold water to make a finer product. Without some sort of pressurization that would be a slow process and the solution would likely cool before it was completely added to the cold water.

Aurium,
No problem. It is a learning process. The low density is critical to this working. Thanks for sharing your SGD design. It is very easy to setup. Mechanical triggering works every time. The MOT only charges the cap to 4kv so I leave it on for 5 seconds or so and poke the screwdriver into the gap and boom! Now that I have it working I am going to make the unit mobile so I can abandon the MOTs.

Laboratory of Liptakov - 12-11-2015 at 00:26

I do not advocate the use of high voltage on ETN. But I see a nice piece of work. Congratulations to repeated detonation. Dr. Lipatkov

Grantr - 12-11-2015 at 06:48

The test I just performed was on 1/16" wall square mild steel tubing.

The detonator was made from a piece of clear vinyl tubing with an inside diameter of 1/4" and outside diameter of 3/8". A piece of scotch tape was tapped over one end.

.59 grams of ETN was hand pressed into the tube against the taped end. The pressing was done with a 1/4" drill bit and a wood block with all of my weight on it. 155 pounds. I do not know how to measure the density of the pressed.

.18 grams of low density ETN was added on top of the pressed ETN. This was not pressed at all. The 2mm coroplast lead holder was pushed into the top of the tube and taped in place. Spark gap is 2 to 3mm and down in the loose ETN.

The detonator was taped to the top of the steel tubing with 2 pieces of scotch tape. The piece of metal blown out from the top slammed into the bottom wall bulging it out.

Bert - 12-11-2015 at 08:20

Quote:

Interesting to spray a fine mist into the cold water to make a finer product. Without some sort of pressurization that would be a slow process and the solution would likely cool before it was completely added to the cold water.

From my couple of brief attempts at this, you will not get far with a hand sprayer- Saturated solutions will cool on the way out and clog the spray orifice. Additionally, the evaporation in air of the solvent further chills the nozzle! One of the articles I read on this technique (using PETN) mentioned issues with clogged nozzles, need to pre-filter solutions, arrangements for nozzle/delivery line heating.

Useing an air pressurized vessel, the process done "all in one go", rather quickly through a pre heated spray orifice, enough hot solution passing through the spray orifice quickly enough to keep it above crystalization temperature sort of worked. But if you pause, you will need to re-heat the nozzle (NOT RECOMENDED!) or disassemble, clean and start over. It was a painful and frustrating learning experience, yielding very little final product and lots of waste. I eventually gave up and did something else.

I never tried using a more dilute solution, which might solve some of the clogging issues, although likely requiring an even larger volume of cold water to accept the spray mist.

In any case, it seems crashing a saturated solution into ice water is doing what you want...

I am still interested in arc discharge into secondaries as a method of performing very small video studio/green room or model shots- Although bringing high voltage equipment into the studio to replace small quantities of primaries is certainly just changing the nature of the danger, rather than eliminating it.

The ready made movie industry HE squibs/bullet hits and such available to me are rather expensive, and most such products available in USA are based on Lead compounds. Not something I like in an indoor work area, in Europe they do offer non Lead based versions.

http://www.pyrochemie.at/e_bleifrei.htm

http://www.pyrochemie.at/e_patent.htm

[Edited on 12-11-2015 by Bert]

Grantr - 12-11-2015 at 19:28

Bert,

The SGD works every time with the low density ETN. I like this method of firing since I have no interest in making complicated toxic primarys or dangerous peroxides. I am going to rebuild my HV supply so it is small and portable.

4kv in an .8 uf cap is definitively dangerous. The arc pop is loud enough to hurt my ears. I feel it is a safer method of firing since ETN is not sensitive like primarys are.

Liptakov,

Why do you dislike high voltage? Nice work on your NPED detonators. I watched your videos and was about to make one until I solved the SGD issue.

Aurium - 13-11-2015 at 06:19

Grant

Nice detonations there! The detonators I made used only 0.1g which could only impact plastic. Still I have the remains of a 60g ETN impression on a steel plate. I'll post it when possible.
What cable length have you used? Have you tried 0.1uF yet?

Lipatkov

Once again, thank you for your recognition!

Bert

Well I still haven't given up on finding interest for these detonators but I don't know were to look for people in the business.
If I go to the guys that make movie detonators already they'll just protect their business and say the SGD is useless.
I'll have to talk to the guys buying and using the detonators.

For me these detonators are a way to move into secondary and tertiary explosives regardless of my success with primaries.
I won't be making peroxides anymore but many primaries are perfectly safe.
I'll give a go at making better primaries for chemical interest if I can gather the ingredients.

Grantr - 13-11-2015 at 19:04

Aurium thanks! No i have not tried the small caps. They just came today. I am using 6 feet of RG 6 coax with about 2 feet of speaker wire. I have thin wire test leads connecting the cap to the rg 6.

Grantr - 17-11-2015 at 19:31

SGD is working well with the MOC cap at 4kv. I have two MOTs running parallel to give me 4kv. These feed one MOC with the internal bleeder resistor still in tack. I have a crude switch with a string on it for me to pull to fire the gap. So far it works every time. I tested it on a dense charge today.

I was able to press 1.35 grams into a 1/4 inch vinyl tube down to .9 inches which gives me .72cc so a density of 1.87 grams cm3. I used a 2x4 wood block with a 3/8 inch hole drilled in it then cut in half through the hole.

This was clamped around the vinyl tube and I used my drill press and a 1/4 inch steel rod to press the ETN. The tube is not strong enough without the board as it will bulge out and not press the ETN after a certain amount of pressure is applied.

.14 grams was poured loosely on top. The charge was tape to the top of the mild steel tube. Detonation was very loud and the steel had a 1/4 inch hole blown through it with a dent on the other side.

Aurium - 18-11-2015 at 07:15

I see you'r having fun making Swiss cheese out of metal!
Have you taken the time to experiment with different voltages, capacitances and cable lengths so far?
1uF at 4kV is very much like what one would use for an EBW. The SGD is only interesting because it works with just 0.1uF.

Grantr - 20-11-2015 at 10:32

Yea I am having fun! LOL

I have tried using the ebay hv power supply to attempt to set it off. It does not work at all. I set a large spark gap about 1 inch near the HV supply to get the max voltage out of it. I ran 6 feet of speaker wire to the charge with the small 2mm gap. Loud spark but no burn or bang of the ETN.

i also tried the 4kv direct from the MOTs feeding through the MOC. The tube of ETN blew off of the electrode but no bang. The arc melted the tips of the electrodes in the ETN.

ecos - 20-11-2015 at 11:27

MOT can supply more than 400A at low voltages

Aurium - 20-11-2015 at 16:43

Grant.
The hv module is meant to charge the capacitors, not firing the SGD directly. By your description you didn't use any capacitor?
If you want to use the MOC with the hv module you'll have to remove the internal resistor.

Hey Buddy - 30-1-2021 at 11:55

Quote: Originally posted by Aurium

SGD

I'm quite sure that it is the spark discharge that initiates the ETN.
I do not yet know, however, how this happens exactly. High pressure, high temperature, shock wave, maybe a direct electrostatic phenomena?

This is an old thread, but just to shine some light on this, these are known as dielectric breakdown initiators. They are used in missiles mostly, but are also used in some ordnance main charges. What you made is very similar, probably the same way engineers discovered it. In the production DBIs, one leg is the actual case which holds the detonating compound. Typically in a threaded coax configuration, the other leg is a central wire, typically nichrome 36 or 40 ga. The primary wire is insulated by materials like zirconia which have known resistance. By controlling the primary wire diameter, and the distance between poles, the output joules are controlled. Usually they input from a circuit that fires at only around 500v to 4000v then the dimensions between the dielectric material and conductive detonator body are fixed in place such that when the dielectric threshold is met, the circuit is shorted creating instant plasma through the detonating compound in the space around the core wire. That compound is usually pressed to 1500-2000 psi and cured to form a homogenous, hardened fill. The standard initiator compound is BKNO3, for igniting missile grain. For detonation, typically a train of BKNO3 or MTV or BKNO3AP/LP, then a compacted nitrocellulose and if needed a secondary like HNS. I'm not great at math but when DBI occurs it amplifies the source of high V low I, and turns it into high I and V in a very short instant. Resulting voltages and amps depending on configuration can be very high, like 48kV-100kV at surface of center electrode. The distance between legs and the resistance of components in the detonator make it so that small input voltages and very small currents cause plasma detonation, as the plasma is formed within the initiating fill between the detonator body and the center pole. The thinner the wire, the less voltage required and the distance between poles is very close. Sometimes around .03". Resultant energy delivery can be on the order of 1,000mJ per mil at electrode surface with input of 4000V.

For more information on these types of devices a very useful patent which I've referenced in this description is a very good detonator which I personally prefer.
US9329011 B1 "High Voltage Arm/Fire Device and Method"
Smith, Orbital ATK, Inc. 2016

Hopefully you will enjoy these. They are very nice and relatively inexpensive if cheap components are used. Very versatile. Thead in. And quick detach if you use BNC/SMA.

I'd imagine Minemans comp would be peachy keen with these. I've been working on some other OTC det comps but its so cold and wet out its put me behind for a while. Really interested in using other forms of boron other than elemental because reducing it or dissolving magnets in hcl is a PITA. Will be trying some Mineman comp variants though soon. I will report anything useful.

[Edited on 30-1-2021 by Hey Buddy]

MineMan - 30-1-2021 at 13:15

Haha. Yah I was actually going to use a spark gap for the industry applications because the mixture is so insensitive to flame. It will work extremely and will not be as sensitive to particle size, except the Al must still be nano. The spark gap gives a wide margin of error correction. It should turn the nAl to plasma, speeding up ddt.

Pyro_cat - 9-2-2021 at 18:15

I wonder if I could just use grid power, back in the tesla coil days messing around exploding foil with the 200 amp main, it was quite energetic.

Pyro_cat - 23-2-2021 at 19:53

I guess I have to try it I thought I could put the idea out and someone else would.

Small pile of ETN on grounded Al foil and pop it with an arc by touching the foil - etn pile with a grid power 120 v hot wire so the plasma ball spark blast hits it.

alright, I will get this experiment done and report back.