Fast testing for explosive properties of mg-scale samples by thermal activation and classification by physical and chemical properties

To test explosive properties of substances, the strong exothermal reaction of an explosive after ignition can be used. Monitoring the emitted visible or infrared radiation by photodiodes and the change in pressure by a transducer in a closed system offers a low cost and mobile explosive identification device. The explosives investigated were hexamethylene triperoxide diamine, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, ammonium gelignite, ammonium nitrate fuel oil, cyclotrimethylene trinitramine, cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine, black powder, nitrocellulose, trinitrophenylmethylnitramine, gun propellant, triacetone triperoxide and trinitrotoluene. It has been shown, that the fast thermal activation of single-digit mg samples yields reproducible results for primary explosives, propellants, and trinitrotoluene. An analysis of the volatile reaction products with commercial semi-conductor gas sensors enables a differentiation between nitrate- and peroxide-based explosives and non-explosives.