The term “high explosives” comes up frequently in many Hollywood movies, but the term is often misused to describe any kind of material that can be ignited and exploded. In fact, the term “high explosives”, however refer to a specific group of materials.
In order to understand the difference between ordinary explosives and high explosives, one must first understand what an ordinary explosive is. An explosive material is a chemically reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy. If released suddenly, this potential energy will create an explosion. The potential energy stored in an explosive material may be a form of chemical energy, such as plutonium-239.
Explosive materials are categorized by the speed at which they expand. By the technical definition, materials that deflagrate are said to be low explosives. In order to detonate, a material must explode at a rate faster than the speed of sound. In other words, a high explosives will explode so rapidly that an onlooker would see the explosion before he or she would hear it.
When initiated by a blow or shock, a high explosive will decompose almost instantaneously. This decomposition will occur in a manner similar to an extremely rapid combustion or with the rupture and rearrangement of the molecules themselves. Typically when high explosives are detonated, the explosive material combusts within a few millionths of a second.
Examples of high explosives include ANFO, an ammonium nitrate-fuel oil mixture, nitroglycerin, PETN, also known as pentaerythritol tetranitrate, picric acid, and TNT. TNT, typically used in dynamite, was originally created during the 19th century as a way to blast through mountains in order to create new mines and railway tunnels. This high explosive was quickly utilized by the military, however. Its inventor, Alfred Nobel, came to regret his invention and used the profits from it to create the Nobel Peace Prize.
Since the invention of dynamite, however, high explosives have been continuously researched by various world militaries. Today they are found in a variety of weaponry, but they are still used for industrial purposes as well. High explosives are still used in mining, transportation infrastructure, and very miniscule amounts are used for a variety of manufacturing purposes. Because of their danger, their use must be overseen by a trained professional who possesses state and federal certifications.
