Jackhammers, Polymers, and Diamonds: New Applications in Explosives

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Jackhammers, Polymers, and Diamonds New
Applications in Explosives

• Dr. Christa Hockensmith
• Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center,
• New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,
• Socorro, NM 87801

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Explosives

• What is an explosive?
• An explosion releases enormous amounts of energy
  from a chemical reaction of explosive materials.
• The power of an explosion comes from the
  extremely short amount of time (1/100 second or
  less) during which heat and gas are generated.
• Characteristics
• Exothermic reaction
• Extremely high temperatures
• Extremely high pressures
• Blast or pressure wave presentthe damaging agent

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The Impact of Explosive Energy at 0 ms and after
19 ms to a cinder block wallprotected with a
steel plate
John E. Crawford, Karagozian Case, USA and
Shengrui Lan, Karagozian Case, USADESIGN AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF PROTECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR
IMPROVING BLAST RESISTANCE OF BUILDINGS Enhancing
Building Security Seminar, March 23, 2005,
Singapore
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Uses of Explosives

• 1. the usualmunitions, bombs,
• fireworks, explosive materials for
• the military, mining, excavations,
• roads, demolitions, etc.
• 2. the unusualpower tools, diamonds,
• polymeric tools, the untested ideas.
• 3. lets look at them one at a time

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Explosive-assisted Tools

• 1. Many tools are powered with hydraulic fluids
  or compressed air.
• 2. Therefore, compressors and fluid lines must be
  available at the site where the tools are used.
• 3. Explosive cartridges can be used to power the
  tools (create pressure so the tool functions)
  eliminating compressors and fluid lines.
• 4. Tools then have mobility not previously
  available.

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Schematic for Explosive-powered Jack Hammer
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Other Explosive-powered Tools

• 1. nail guns, on-site machining tools, spray
  guns, chipping tools,and various other tools
  ordinarily powered with air or fluids.
• 2. explosive-powered tools
• can also be used to give
• easier access to inaccessible,
• recreation or search sites.
• 3. An explosive-powered pin
• insertion tool could be used
• in rock climbing or rescue
• operations.

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Production of Industrial Diamonds

• Almost 220,000 lb are synthesized annually for
  use as abrasives, cutting edges, in grinding
  wheels, and in the mining industry (drill bits).
  

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Industrial Diamond Production with Explosives

• 1. A canister is packed with carbon and enclosed
  with explosives at the manufacturers
  facilitydiamonds are naturally formed by
  pressure and heat.
• 2. The pressure wave and heat from the explosion
  creates the pressure and temperature needed to
  produce industrial diamonds.
• 3. The canister explosives are detonated with
  explosives on the exterior of the canister.
• 4. The canister containing reacted carbon is
  shipped unopened to the manufacturer and new
  canisters are received.

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Explosive-aided Polymers

• 1. polymeric materials are used as a coating
  around other chemicals that are to be delivered
  during a manufacturing process.
• 2. a small explosive charge ruptures the
  polymeric exterior coating freeing the chemicals
  for delivery at the appropriate place and time.
• 3. polymeric coating protects the deliverables
  and increases shelf life during storage.

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More Explosive-aided Polymers

• 1. Medical supplies such as electrolytes and
  nutritional supplements in solution are packaged
  in plastic containers.
• 2. Shipping, handling, and heat may deform the
  containers.
• 3. A small explosive charge can create enough
  inert gas to reshape the container.
• 4. A filter prevents contamination of medical
  solutions.
• 5. Inert gas prevents leakage, loss of sterility,
  and decreases the amount of polymer necessary for
  container manufacture.

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The Untried and Untested

• 1. A very large explosive detonation can create
  industrial diamonds. What about small
  detonations?
• 2. Very small detonations could destroy
  tumorsexcept many tumors have high
  vascularization.
• 3. Small detonations that implode rather than
  explode the tumor may prevent uncontrolled
  bleeding and the body will clear the debris.
• 4. Even smaller detonations may clear plugged
  arteries and blood vessels without running
  balloons through those vessels.

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The Untried and Untested

• 5. Partial inflation of devices such as life
  rafts, automobile air bags, parachutes, etc. for
  testing and repair.
• 6. Single detonations of these devices partially
  inflate and multiple detonations fully inflate.
• 7. Small tab attached to food trays or popcorn
  bags is pulled and detonates explosive lining in
  bag or tray. Food is cooked/warmed as necessary
  for serving without chemical reactions that leave
  waste chemicals behind.

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EMRTC Thanks you for your Attention

• Please visit us at www.emrtc.nmt.edu
• We are sponsoring an Explosives Camp for students
  16 years and older June 21-27, 2009. Please
  contact us for more information on this program
• explosivescamp_at_emrtc.nmt.edu
• 575-835-5348 or 5492