What does it take to detonate ammonium nitrate?

Ammonium nitrate does not burn on its own. Instead, it acts as a source of oxygen that can accelerate the combustion (burning) of other materials. For combustion to occur, oxygen must be present. It’s relatively difficult for a fire to trigger an ammonium nitrate explosion.

Does ammonium nitrate Deflagrate or explode?

Ammonium Nitrate Characteristics When a fire or a heat source is sequestered in a closed container of ammonium nitrate (e.g., tank, shipping container), the reaction can transition to a violent explosion in a phenomenon known as deflagration-to-detonation transition, or DDT.

What is the VoD of ANFO?

For the ANFO explosive the mean value of the VoD increases from 3280 m/s (primer type I) to 3560 m/s (primer type III), for ANFO with 10 wt. \% emulsion from 3620 to 3770 m/s, for ANFO with 15 wt. \% emulsion from 3790 to 3890 m/s, for ANFO with 20 wt.

At what percentage of moisture the ANFO will fail to detonate?

ANFO which contains more than about 10\% water usually fails to detonate (ICI 1997). Under conditions of high moisture content the prills will cake. ANFO can only be used in dry holes, unless it is packaged in a suitable waterproof container.

How do you extinguish ammonium nitrate fire?

Use flooding quantities of water from a distance as promptly as possible. It is important that the mass of ammonium nitrate be kept cool and the burning be quickly extinguished. Keep adjacent fertilizers cool by spraying with large amounts of water.

Can urea be used as an explosive?

Urea nitrate is a powerful improvised explosive, frequently used by terrorists in the Israeli arena. It was also used in the first World Trade Center bombing in New York in February 1993. It is difficult to identify urea nitrate in post-explosion debris, since only a very small fraction survives the blast.

What is the critical diameter of ANFO?

The critical diameter of poured ANFO is about 2.0 – 2.5 inches. Under this it will not detonate. If it is loaded pneumatically the critical diameter can be increased to 1.0 inch.