New Explosive at University of Michigan and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: A Fascinating Combination of Science and Purpose
Summary
Researchers at the University of Michigan and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory created a new explosive using two existing explosives, HM and CL2. The combination resulted in a crystal sandwich with a faster detonation velocity, but with the insensitivity of HM. Author, John Green, finds explosives fascinating and discusses how they work and how they are purpose-built objects.
Table of Contents:
- What are HM and CL2 explosives?
- How did researchers combine these two explosives to create the new explosive?
- What is the detonation velocity of the new explosive and how sensitive is it?
- Why are explosives fascinating?
- How do explosives work?
- Why are purpose-built objects like explosives interesting?
Introduction:
Although explosives may not be on everyone’s shopping list, a recent journal article caught the attention of researchers at the University of Michigan and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. These researchers have worked on a potential alternative to some existing military explosives. They created a new explosive from two existing explosives, resulting in a fascinating combination of science and purpose.
Q&A:
What are HM and CL2 explosives?
HM, or 1,3,5,7-tetra nitr, 1,3,5,7-tetra azo cyclo octan, and CL2, or 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexa nitr, 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexa azo iso wurtzitan, are organic explosives with relative values. HM has a detonation velocity of 9,400 meters per second and is relatively insensitive, whereas CL2 is more powerful but also more sensitive.
How did researchers combine these two explosives to create the new explosive?
The researchers created a crystal sandwich with layers of each explosive. This resulted in a new explosive with a slightly faster detonation velocity and the insensitivity of HM.
What is the detonation velocity of the new explosive and how sensitive is it?
The new explosive has a slightly faster detonation velocity than HM alone, resulting in a slightly larger “boom” but also maintains the insensitivity of HM. The sensitivity of an explosive is tested by dropping a five-pound weight on a small amount of the explosive from different heights, the lower the weight needed for the explosive to go off, the more sensitive it is. Nitroglycerin is highly sensitive, whereas TN is less sensitive.
Why are explosives fascinating?
Explosives are fascinating molecules because of the way they work. They all work in the same way, by oxidizing carbon and hydrogen to produce carbon dioxide and water and releasing nitrogen gas, resulting in an explosion.
How do explosives work?
Explosives work by using the energy produced by the oxidation of carbon and hydrogen to rapidly transform a small volume of solid into a large volume of gas, a rapid expansion that creates the explosion. The molecules of explosives all look similar, with nitro groups and carbon rings, and are characterized by their purpose – built, destiny to explode as elegantly terrifying and beautiful individual molecules.
Why are purpose-built objects like explosives interesting?
Purpose-built objects like explosives are interesting because they are built for a specific purpose, to explode. They are purpose-built objects that are elegantly terrifying and beautiful. Just like a fighter plane, aircraft carrier, or M4 carbine, they are made to do a specific thing and are purpose-built objects.
Conclusion:
Although explosives may not be on everyone’s mind or shopping list, they are fascinating molecules that enable researchers to make discoveries and purpose-built objects that are terrifyingly beautiful. This new explosive from the University of Michigan and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a testament to the ever-evolving discoveries in science and how we use them to make purpose-built objects.
