Explosives

News Explosives

• Black silicon can help detect explosives
  

  Scientists from Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, and Melbourne Center for Nanofabrication developed an ultrasensitive detector based on black silicon. The device is able to detect trace amounts of nitroa more

• TNT could be headed for retirement after 116 years on the job
  

  Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Aberdeen, Maryland have developed a novel “melt-cast” explosive material that could be a suitable replacement for Trinitrotoluene, more commonly known as TNT. “The Army and the Laboratory, through the Joint Munitio more

• One step closer to understanding explosive sensitivity with molecule design

  Explosives have an inherent problem - they should be perfectly safe for handling and storage but detonate reliably on demand. Using computer modeling and a novel molecule design technique, scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have replaced one "arm" of an explosive molecule to help unravel t more

Videos Explosives

Slow Motion Contact Explosive - Nitrogen Triiodide

Nitrogen triiodide is a highly unstable substance that detonates when disturbed. So we disturbed it. more

Accidental Discoveries That Go Boom

Chemistry usually involves precise measurements and careful testing in order to get significant results. But a bunch of notable discoveries happened by accident. In the second edition of our accidental discoveries series, get to know the stories of how TNT, dynamite and even air bags were discov ... more

Explosive Science

Distinguished Scientist, Ri Vice President and explosives expert Chris Bishop presents another action-packed demonstration lecture. more

Infographics Explosives

The Versatility of Glycerol

Look on the ingredients label of many different cosmetic or personal care products, and glycerol (often also called glycerin or glycerine) is commonly present. It’s also found in a variety of food products, as well as in some pharmaceutical products, so what’s the reason for its inclusion? Glycerol more

The Chemistry of Gunpowder

With the Fourth of July and American Independence Day on the horizon, a somehow topical post seemed in order. Having already examined the chemical compounds that give fireworks their colours in a previous graphic, I decided to examine another important firework component here: the first chemical exp more

Publications Explosives

• Sensors, Vol. 18, Pages 2058: RES-Q-Trace: A Mobile CEAS-Based Demonstrator for Multi-Component Trace Gas Detection in the MIR

  Sensors, Vol. 18, Pages 2058: RES-Q-Trace: A Mobile CEAS-Based Demonstrator for Multi-Component Trace Gas Detection in the MIR Sensors doi: 10.3390/s18072058 Authors: Norbert Lang Uwe Macherius Henrik Zimmermann Sven Glitsch Mathias Wiese Jürgen Röpcke Jean-Pierre H. van Helden more

• Rational synthesis of luminescent uncommon (3,4,6)-c connected Zn(II) MOF: A dual channel sensor for the detection of nitroaromatics and ferric ion

  The articulate combination of intriguing functional groups and luminescence property can deliver metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with multifarious applications viz. selective and specific sensing of nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) an important constituent of explosives as well as sensing of toxic met more

• Porphyrins in troubled times: a spotlight on porphyrins and their metal complexes for explosives testing and CBRN defense

  Porphyrins are large π-aromatic systems that can complex metal ions from all across the periodic table. The resulting metalloporphyrins are readily tunable with regards to analyte detection properties, and constitute an important class of chemical sensors. In light of the current geopolitical situat more