Explosive train

<h2 id="low-explosive-train">Low explosive train</h2>
<p>An example of a low-explosive train is a rifle cartridge, which consists of 
</p>
<ol><li>a <a href="/facts/Explosive_primer/SoXrXl08">primer</a> consisting of a small amount of <a href="/facts/Primary_explosive/sUme5Pp8">primary</a> <a href="/facts/High_explosive/sUme5Pp8">high explosive</a> which initiates the explosive train</li>
<li>an <a href="/facts/Igniter/BfUDd0PM">igniter</a> which is initiated by the primer and creates a flame that ignites the propellant</li>
<li>a <a href="/facts/Propellant/K88ymXRy">propellant</a> consisting of a <a href="/facts/Secondary_explosive/sUme5Pp8">secondary</a> <a href="/facts/Low_explosive/sUme5Pp8">low explosive</a> that emits a large amount of gas as it <a href="/facts/Deflagration/wIR4pGtC">deflagrates</a>.</li></ol>
<h2 id="high-explosive-train">High explosive train</h2>
<p>High-explosives trains can be either two-step (e.g., <a href="/facts/Detonator/SoXrXl08">detonator</a>, [containing primary explosive] and <a href="/facts/Dynamite/WQ06BcGK">dynamite</a> / other sensitive secondary) or three-step configuration (e.g., <a href="/facts/Detonator/SoXrXl08">initiator</a>, [detonator, compound cap or NPED] <a href="/facts/Explosive_booster/fY3DN8zC">booster</a> of intermediate explosive, and main charge of insensitive <a href="/facts/Secondary_explosive/sUme5Pp8">secondary explosive</a>).
</p>
<h3>Primary components</h3>
<p>A high explosive train includes three primary high explosive components which are used to initiate explosives:
</p>
<ol><li><a href="/facts/Fuse_(explosives)/BLv0GeAN">Fuse</a> or <a href="/facts/Fuze/uGhu5xbF">fuze</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Explosive_primer/SoXrXl08">Primer</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Detonator/SoXrXl08">Detonator</a></li></ol>
<p>Detonators are conventionally made from <a href="/facts/Tetryl/MKufqY6x">tetryl</a> and <a href="/facts/Fulminate/EBlo8aXI">fulminates</a>, but can be made of other initiating explosive materials.
</p>
<h3>Secondary components</h3>
<p>In an explosive train there are two secondary high explosive components:
</p>
<ol><li><a href="/facts/Explosive_booster/fY3DN8zC">Boosters</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Bursting_charge/P5ojPsl3">Bursting charges</a>, also known as the main charge</li></ol>
<p>Examples of explosives used in bursting charges are
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Trinitrotoluene/sADUt6nC">TNT</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Composition_B/SRRUR7sD">Composition B</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Ammonal/nv6lsg3H">Ammonal</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Semtex/hVVkPwcv">Semtex</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/RDX/ke3nK9zI">RDX</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/HMX/ax3nKgdq">HMX</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Erythritol_tetranitrate/98ycEyUR">ETN</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/PETN/QWXek3ef">PETN</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/C-4_(explosive)/mQxuxqNB">C-4</a></li>
<li>Other suitable <a href="/facts/Binary_explosives/fIoGcA9f">Binary explosives</a></li></ul>
<h3>Tertiary components</h3>
<ol><li>main charge</li></ol>
<p>Examples of main charges are
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Trinitrotoluene/sADUt6nC">TNT</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Composition_B/SRRUR7sD">Composition B</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Pentolite/mj0rMKBr">Pentolite</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Baratol/EAT1Y0UI">Baratol</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Amatol/z38XdRMs">Amatol</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/PLX/rp6M5RkX">PLX</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/HMX/ax3nKgdq">HMX</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Erythritol_tetranitrate/98ycEyUR">ETN</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/PETN/QWXek3ef">PETN</a></li>
<li>Other suitable <a href="/facts/Binary_explosives/fIoGcA9f">binary explosives</a></li></ul>
<p>In some cases, the main charge is so insensitive that using typical primary materials becomes impractical due to large amount required. Thus, an explosive booster is used to deliver a sufficient shockwave to successfully initiate the main charge, as so full detonation occurs.
</p><p>The most significant tertiary material in widespread general usage is <a href="/facts/ANFO/1b3Ys4MS">ANFO</a>, an <a href="/facts/Binary_explosive/fIoGcA9f">explosive binary</a> made from <a href="/facts/Ammonium_nitrate/aSc96wBX">Ammonium nitrate</a> and <a href="/facts/Fuel_oil/5Qbta9f5">Fuel oil</a>.
</p>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Modular Explosives Training Program (PDF). United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. pp. 8–9. <a href="https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/60135NCJRS.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/60135NCJRS.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Explosive train open-in-new

Explosive train