
<!-- BEGIN 250Free Advertising - REMOVE THIS CODE WHEN EDITING PAGE -->


<center>
<img src="http://www.250free.com/images/ad_spacer.gif" height="2"><br>

<!-- 250Free "Hosted By" Ad -->
<a href="http://www.250Free.com" target="_top"><img src="http://www.250Free.com/images/user_header2.gif" width="501" height="21" border="0"></a><br>

<!-- phpAds - Header Ad - MaxOnline -->

<!-- Shows at least MaxOnline Ads for WebTV and really old browsers -->
<SCRIPT>
<!--
// MaxOnline JavaScript tag for: iSight, Inc. (250Free.com)
var randomNum=Math.round(Math.random() * 100000000000);
if ((!document.images && navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/2.') >= 0) || navigator.userAgent.indexOf("WebTV")>= 0) {
document.write('<A HREF="http://c4.maxserving.com/adclick/site=6414/area=ad728x90/aamfmt=normal/aamsz=banner/PageID=' + randomNum + '" target="_blank">');
document.write('<IMG SRC="http://c4.maxserving.com/iserver/site=6414/area=ad728x90/aamfmt=normal/aamsz=banner/PageID=' + randomNum + '" border="0"></A>');
}
//-->
</SCRIPT>

<!-- MaxOnline for U.S. a couple other countries, and Google AdSense for rest of world -->
<script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript' src='http://www.250free.com/adserv/adx.js'></script>
<script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript'>
<!--
   if (!document.phpAds_used) document.phpAds_used = ',';
   phpAds_random = new String (Math.random()); phpAds_random = phpAds_random.substring(2,11);
   
   document.write ("<" + "script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript' src='");
   document.write ("http://www.250free.com/adserv/adjs.php?n=" + phpAds_random);
   document.write ("&amp;what=zone:4");
   document.write ("&amp;exclude=" + document.phpAds_used);
   document.write ("&amp;source=");
   if (document.referrer)
      document.write ("&amp;referer=" + escape(document.referrer));
   document.write ("'><" + "/script>");
//-->
</script><noscript><a href='http://www.250free.com/adserv/adclick.php?n=af331220' target='_blank'><img src='http://www.250free.com/adserv/adview.php?what=zone:4&amp;n=af331220&source=' border='0' alt=''></a></noscript>

</center>
<br>

<!-- END 250Free Advertising  -->
--------------------------------------------------------------------------                      Kitchen Improvised Blasting Caps                                by Tim Lewis                Published by Information Publishing MCMDXXXV Transcribed to the electronic media by Thallion / Swedish Infomania 1995.--------------------------------------------------------------------------                Table Of Contents:                Chapter  1: How Blasting Caps Works                Chapter  2: Fuse Cap Manufacture                Chapter  3: Electric Blasting Cap Manufacture                Chapter  4: HMTD                Chapter  5: DDNP                Chapter  6: Acetone Peroxide                Chapter  7: Double Salts                Chapter  8: TACC                Chapter  9: Mercury Fulminate                Chapter 10: Lead Picrate                Chapter 11: Nitrogen Sulfide                Chapter 12: Silver Fulminate                Chapter 13: Nitromannite                Chapter 14: RDX                Chapter 15: PETN                Chapter 16: Picric Acid                Chapter 17: MMAN                Chapter 18: Tetryl                Chapter 19: TeNN                Chapter 20: Nitroguanidine--------------------------------------------------------------------------                           HOW BLASTING CAPS WORK        I know you have seen before, on T.V., the western where the goodguy sticks a fuse in a stick of dynamite and presto he has a fusedetonation device? If you have used explosives in the military or otherwiseyou know that this is a bunch of huey! While there are explosivecompositions that can be made to detonate this easily, this same traitgives them a dangerous nature that requires very special precautions, ifthey can be used at all.        Detonation is in essence a chemical reaction brought about by ahigh velocity shock wave at speeds as low as 1100 M/sec. and going up to9300 M/sec. for "Medina" explosives. This shock wave is initially producedby the blasting cap and is continued throughout the explosive charge as thedetonation progresses. These waves have the appearance, in high speedphotos, similar to ripples in a smooth pond of water as a pebble is thrownin. These detonation waves must meet or exceed certain strength and raterequirements to detonate a particular charge or explosive. Each explosivehas a different requirement for detonation from the blasting capstandpoint. A good rule of thumb for any explosive is to use more blastingcap than is needed. This is a good idea as most explosives can beoverdriven with a larger than needed detonator. By overdriven, I mean thatan abnormally high detonation rate can be achieved as the high speeddetonation from the cap will carry over in the explosive.        Many people with whom I have conversed, have mentioned pipe bombsthat are made by filling a pipe with either black powder or smokelesspowder. These pipe bombs are poor for fragmentation due to the actualdeflagration nature of this type ordinance. Deflagration is the simpleburning of a propellant or explosive. This will generate pressure greatenough to rupture the container (pipe) and no more. 2" schedule 40 pipewill rupture at approximately 7144 P.S.I. If black powder or smokelesspowder is being used, this is the maximum pressure a pipe bomb wouldgenerate. If this same pipe were filled with powdered ammonium nitrate-fueloil explosive and detonated with a blasting cap with an approximatepressure of detonation of 600,000 P.S.I. plus. This same set up (capinitiated) with "Bullseye" brand smokeless powder from Hercules Inc.Wilmington Delaware as a pipe filler with a blasting cap will generateapproximately 2,000,000 P.S.I. plus detonation pressure. This amounts to an8300% and 28000% increase over deflagration respectively. As these figuresprove, true detonation is awesome and an unbelievable increase over simplepropellant deflagration explosive fillers. Most of the high CHNO explosivegroups will make the transition from deflagration to detonation. Usuallythis transition will require the build up of a good deal of pressure. Theammonium nitrate cargos of the High Flyer and Grandcamp are said to possiblyhave undergone this type of deflagration to detonation transition. Thistransitions, caused the detonation of their cargos of thousands of tons offertilizer grade ammonium nitrate. This detonation in Texas City, TexasHarbor, in 1947 generated 50 million dollars damage and jiggled seismographneedles in Denver, Colorado. This was the largest nonnuclear explosion inU.S. history.        As mentioned earlier we have explained that detonation is a shockwave introduced chemical reaction. This detonation wave, and what happens,is perhaps explained easier in the drawing below. In this drawing the zonein front of the shocK wave is the unreacted zone. Behind this zone, theshock wave is seen. This area of the shock wave is called the "Shock zone."This is the mechanical shock wave that originated at the detonator. Thisshock zone is usually 0.00001 cm long. The "chemical reaction zone"immediately follows the shock zone. The shock zone is the point of thehighest pressure of the detonation. The "chemical reaction zone" is thepart of the detonation zone that has the highest temperature and velocity.This chemical reaction zone is where the actual chemical reactions of thedetonation, and the subsequent detonation byproducts are produced. Thiszone does not actually include the detonation byproducts because thereactions are not complete. This chemical reaction zone is usually 0.1 to1.0 cm long. One of the characteristic differences of deflagration anddetonation is the flow of the byproducts. In deflagration the products flowfrom the combustion zone. In detonation the products flow toward the shockzone.        At times the detonation zone in an explosive can progress throughthe explosive at a much slower than normal rate. This is called low orderdetonation. Nitroglycerin, one of the most powerful explosives known, stillhas this undesirable trait. "Nitro" can detonate with high order detonationrates of over 8000 M/sec. while low order detonation can be as low at 1500M/sec..        Density of explosives have a great bearing on the rate of thedetonation zone than the explosive mass. Every explosive has a greaterdetonation velocity with respect to the density. These are fixed andunchangeable under ideal conditions. Usually, the greater the density, thehigher the detonation rate. Also, the higher the density, the lower thesensitivity. These statements, of course, are generalizations and will nothold true always. In a classic sense they give somewhat of an idea as tothe way explosives perform.        As this is a field of explosive that can become a lifelong study,we won't attempt to give course in these theories. It is good, however, tounderstand why explosives perform the way they do so that maximum use couldbe had from them. The theory above is the hydrodynamic theory ofdetonation. This is the most generally accepted of the explosive detonationtheories. For further reading here are two good books:DETONATION AND TWO-PHASE FLOW        Vol. 6 of "Progress in Astronautics and Rocketry"        by S.S. Penner & B.P. Mullins Academic Press (NY NY)SCIENCE OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES        by M.A. Cook        Available from Information Publishing        For the purpose of this book we will cover two different types ofexplosives. Primary and base explosives, with respect to blasting capmanufacture and the manufacture of these explosives.        Primary explosives are usually sensitive to shock, friction, andheat. They are used to detonate the base charge in blasting caps. Theseexplosives are used due to the ability of the primary explosive to make aneasy and quick transition to detonation. As a general rule, theseexplosives require very little confinement to make the deflagration todetonation transition.        The detonation wave set up by the primary explosive is thebeginning of the detonation process. This primary shock wave will detonatethe base charge in the caps. The base charge of the cap is normally R.D.X.or some other high explosive. The base charge needs to be powerful andstable, but still sensitive to the primary detonation wave.        The 6700 M/sec. plus base charge detonation velocity, will set offthe main charge and with lower velocity explosive will overdrive them bysending such a high velocity shock wave through the explosive.                            FUSE CAP MANUFACTURE        Being totally realistic one cannot hope to produce a blasting capcomparable to commercial products. The precision of modern manufacturingcan produce caps cheaply and safely. The actual loading process is adangerous one, but can be made relatively safe by taking the precautionsoutlined in the processes below. The home producer, can however,manufacture a cap that will work 99% of the time. These "homemade" capswill detonate most of the high explosives that their commercialcounterparts will.        Fuse caps are blasting caps that are fired by the flame from asafety fuse. This flame ignites the flash charge of loose black powder.This, in turn, ignites the primary explosive. This primary explosive makesthe transition from burning (deflagration) to detonation. These caps can beloaded as a simple cap or a compound cap. The simple cap has only the flashcharge and the primary explosive. The compound caps have both theseingredients plus a high explosive base charge. The compound caps areusually a good deal stronger due to the high explosive base charge. Tomanufacture these caps the explosives are simply pressed into the capcontainer. This container should be 1/4 inch in diameter (or larger)copper or aluminum tubing 1.25" long or a 5.56 mm N.A.T.O. spent cartridge.The tubing can have one end sealed with a wooden plug or simply be crimpedclosed with a pair of pliers. The burr should be removed from the open endof the tubing. After removing this burr, these tubes would be ready to loadwith the explosive charges. When using a 5.56 mm N.A.T.O. spent case theprimer would need to be removed. After this has been done the flash holewould need to be enlarged enough to accept the fuse. This could beaccomplished with a hand drill or by using a nail. The cap case would thenbe ready to insert the fuse and load with the explosive charges. The copperor aluminum tubes would need the base charge to be pressed in first. Thispressing should be done with a close fitting wooden dowel. This should alsobe done with the tube supported rigidly from underneath and surrounded withbags of sand to absorb the explosion, if necessary. Find in this section adrawing of a loading apparatus. This apparatus would be safe as theoperator would be remote. This press would be simple to make and would behighly recommended. Next the primary charge should be pressed into thetube.CAUTION: Primary explosives are very sensitive to friction and impact !Extreme care should be taken in this step of the procedure. A foul up herecould be very dangerous !        After this primary charge is pressed a very small amount of blackpowder is placed on top of the primary charge. This will ensure theignition of the primary charge. The fuse is then placed in the mouth of thefilled tube so that the end contacts the black powder ignition charge.NOTE: Use only good quality safety fuse available from: Westech Corp. P.O.B.593, Logan UT. 84321, Zeller Enterprises, P. O. Drawer W 2, WickenburgA Z.85358. Goodfuse can be made by soaking cotton twine in a saturated solutionof potassium chlorate. This, however, will not be as reliable and thereforenot as safe.        A small wad of cotton is then pressed on top of the fuse and initercharge so that the fuse can exit the tube on one side. This is then crimpedwith pliers. Care should be taken to ensure the primary explosive is notpresent in the area of the tube to be crimped, as this crimping with thisprimary in between the tube walls could very well cause the prematuredetonation of the cap. This cap would then be ready to use.        Simple caps can be loaded similarly with the deletion of the basecharge in the loading. They can also be loaded into a .22 magnum spentcartridge case in a manner similar to the method above. These small capswill not be as powerful as the larger caps. Some of the primaries would notbe suitable and all of the others would need their primary charge doubledfor maximum performance.        The 5.56 mm cartridge case would be load is the exact opposite ofthe copper or aluminum tube caps. The fuse would be inserted into the casethrough the flash hole. The black powder ignition charge would then beplace in the bottom of the case. The primary would then be placed in thebottom of the case. The primary would then be pressed into the casecarefully and of course on top of that would be the base charge. Afterthese were pressed into the case a small ball of cotton or paper would bepressed into the case to fill the remaining portion. Then the end of thecase would be crimped with pliers to close the cap. This cap would then beready to use.1/4" aluminum or copper tube.Igniter: Black Powder          .20 G.PRIMARY:    HMTD                       .75 G.    DDNP                       .50 G.    Mercury Fulminate          .75 G.    Double Salts               .75 G.    Nitromannite               .50 G.BASE:    RDX                        1.0 G.    PETN                       1.0 G.    Picric Acid                1.0 G.    TeNN                       1.0 G.    Nitromannite               1.0 G.    MMAN (3/8" tubing)         3.0 G.    Nitroguanidine             2.0 G.    Tetryl                     1.5 G.        As you can see by the above chart the nitromannite is listed asboth a primary and a base charge. The reason for this is, that while it isnot actually a primary explosive, it tends to function as one.Nitromannite's use as a base charge makes use of the 8000+ M/sec.detonation velocity. This nitromannite is a very touchy substance withsensitivity approaching that of nitroglycerin. It would be best used as alast resort.5.56 mm Empty cartridge case:Igniter:        Black powder         2.O G. 3 grainsPRIMARY:        HMTD        DDNP                 .50 G        Mercury Fulminate    .75 G        TACC                 1.0 G        Double Salts         .75 G        Lead Picrate         3.0 G        Nitromannite         .50 G        TACN                 4.5 GBASE:        PETN                 1.0 G        RDX                  1.0 G        TeNN                 1.0 G        Nitromannite         1.0 G        Picric Acid          1.0 G        Nitroguanidine       2.0 G        MMAN (7.62case)      3.0 G        Tetryl               1.5 GTACN is listed here as a primary. This is given due to the ease ofmanufacture. This primary is stated in literature to detonate T.N.T.. Theneed for a heavy wall thickness detonator capsule would limit this to 5.56mm shell detonators or larger empty shells. The use of MMAN would requirewaterproofing the finished cap by dipping in molten wax or paraffin.                     ELECTRIC BLASTING CAP MANUFACTURE        Electric blasting caps offer a good deal more versatility to theblaster. This allows better and more remote blasting operations and thepossibility for timed blasting applications are great but cannot offer theversatility of application. The electric blasting cap (EBC) can.        EBC's are very simple in their function. Current is passed throughthe two wires leading from the cap. This current, due to resistance, heatsa small "bridge wire" which in turn fires an ignition mixture. This, inturn, fires the primary explosive and base charge respectively. The problemwith improvisation is finding a suitable performing bridge wire which willgive reliable performance. Earlier literature has stated that the "guts"from light bulbs will work. They will work but cannot be expected to resistcorrosion produced by some situations and could not be expected to givestable reliable detonation instigation.        Take a spent 7.62 mm N.A.T.O. case. with a small pin punch, nail orother small slender rigid object, reach into the case and knock out thefired primer. Enlarge the flash hole with a 1/8 inch diameter drill.Deburr this enlarged hole so that the wires passing through will not havetheir insulation cut by these burrs, and thus causing a dud. Pass twosections of 22 gauge insulated wire, twelve inches long, through the 1/8inch hole so that they go completely through the case, and their ends arefree of the case mouth. Strip 1/8 inch of the insulation off the wiresprotruding from the case mouth. Cut a 3/8 inch section of .01 inch "nichromewire", which is available at any hobby store or from nearly any electronicssupplier. Nichrome wire is the wire inside toasters and other appliancesthat gets hot when current is passed through it. Discarded appliances couldbe another source of this wire. This piece of nichrome wire is spliced intoboth of the wires at the case mouth. Splice the 22 gauge wires to both endsof the nichrome wire bride. This splice can be formed by twisting thenichrome wire around the upper part of the stripped 22 gauge wire and thelower part of the 22 gauge wire bent up to form a loop. A drop of solder isplaced on these splices to ensure a good circuit. Outside dimensions ofthis improvised "bridge wire" should not be greater than .28 inches. A smallwooden support should then be placed above the junction of the bridge wire.This will help the improvised bridge resist deformation and breaks fromloading the cap. This wooden support could be made of a wooden match stickcut to length. This support should be 1/4 inch or less in length, withthe ends notched out for the 22 gauge wire. These wires should be glued onthe support stick. This whole bridge wire unit should be narrow enough toallow it to be pulled inside the 7.62 mm case even with the priming mixtureon it. The wires should be twisted together on the other side of the woodensupport after the glue on the ends of the support stick have dried,securing the wires in place. These bridge wire units are now ready to havetheir igniter composition placed on them. We will give three differentcompositions for this.#1Match heads (ground damp with acetone) 50%Smokeless powder                       50%#2Black powder (improvised will work)    50%Smokeless powder                       50%#3Potassium Perchlorate                  60%Sulfur                                 38%White glue (Elmer's) enough to form a pasty mass        The first two of these compositions should be used by mixing andslightly dampened with acetone. This will form a putty type mixture. Thisis pressed very gently around the bridge wire assembly. Remember, you haveto get this back into the case, and when dry this priming mixture will beas hard as rock. It should also be said that great care should be taken toensure the continuity of the circuit. This can and should be checked byusing a ohm meter. Let these dry, and they are almost ready to load withexplosives. You may want to test one of these before loading to see how theywork. In tests, these bridge wires when used in ignition squibs, where 98%reliable. They are also sensitive to 2 "C" batteries or larger.        Gently pull the bridge assembly into the case with the wiresextended from the other side: When firmly in the case as far as possible,put several drops of "model airplane glue" in the recess where the spentprimer was. This is allowed to dry. When dry, these are ready to load.        These are loaded with the same amounts of explosives as the fusedcaps so use the table in that section of this book to find the quantity toload. The only difference is the amount of black powder igniter used. Use1/8 to 1/4 gram of black powder for the igniter charge. This is done tocushion the bridge wire when the primary and base explosives are pressedin. After the addition of the black powder igniter, tap the case to settlethis charge. The primary explosive charge is very carefully pressed on topof the igniter charge with a wooden dowel and remotely if possible. Bestresults will be obtained with the press apparatus. See the drawing. Thebase charge is then pressed on on top of the primary charge. Check thecircuits, one at a time, with a OHM meter from behind a barricade. Presscotton in the remaining part of the case, a crimp with cotton, in the partof the case that is being crimped. These can be water proofed by dippingthe completed cap in hot wax for just long enough to immerse themcompletely. These caps are ready to use and will equal a #8 or #10 blastingcap.                   HMTD (Hexamethylenetriperoxidediamine)DETONATION VELOCITY 4511 M/sec. @ 0.88 G/cc                    5100 M/sec. @ 1.10 G/ccFRICTION SENSITIVITY Very Sensitive!!!BEHAVIOR TO FLAME Small quantities flash like guncotton                  Large accumulations will detonate.        HMTD is a high performance initiating explosive. It is one of thebetter initiating explosives but has some definite drawbacks. HMTD is notstable at even slightly elevated temperatures. Room temperature will evencause a decrease in performance with storage time. As one would imagine,due to the extreme excess of oxygen, the corrosion of metals in contactwith the peroxide is a problem. The metals that will cause problems arealuminum, zinc, antimony, brass, copper, lead and iron. These metals incontact with the HMTD even when dry, will cause corrosion. With waterpresent, in the HMTD, the corrosion would more quickly disable animprovised blasting cap that could be made with this material. Spraying theinside of your copper tubing with urethane plastic would most likely reducegreatly, if not completely stop, this corrosion problem. To manufactureHMTD, use one of the processes below.Process #1        Obtain 6% hair bleaching peroxide which is available from anybeauty salon or beauty supply store. This is a 20 volume hydrogen peroxide.Place 9 teaspoons of this. 6% peroxide in a one pint canning jar or 500 mlbeaker. In three portions dissolve by stirring 2-1/2 teaspoons of powderedhexamine (Crushed U.S. Army ration heating tablets, See "Kitchen ImprovisedPlastic Explosives" chapter 2, "Urintropine" etc.). This is stirred untilall the hexamine dissolves. The solution should then be chilled in a icewater bath for 1/2 hour. To this chilled solution add, in four portions,4-1/2 teaspoons of powdered citric acid. Citric acid is readily availableand should be found with canning supplies or in a pharmacy. With eachaddition the solution should be stirred until the citric acid dissolves inthe liquid before another addition is made. When all the additions havebeen made continue stirring the liquid. The beaker or jar containing thesolution should remain in the ice bath. The solution will become cloudy.With the completiorì of the 1/2 hour stirring the liquid is placed in arefrigerator. This will speed he process. If a refrigerator is notavailable let the solution stand for 24 hours. Filter the solution througha paper towel or coffee filter. The white substance is the explosive.CAUTION: HMTD is sensitive to shock, impact, friction, heat and open flame.Extreme care should be exercised. HMTD will detonate from any of thesestimuli even when soaked with water.        These white crystals are washed with 45 ml of distilled water. Tapwater can be used if necessary, but will yield a compound of lesser purity.They are then washed with 75 ml methanol alcohol. These crystals areallowed to dry in a cool dry place. If a 30% technical grade ("Superoxol")of hydrogen peroxide is available it should be used instead of the 6%. If30% is used the proportions are as follows to use in the same process asabove are:HYDROGEN PEROXIDE. "Superoxol" (30% d. 1.11 G/cc)- 185 GHEXAMINE           (Crushed ration heating tablets) 56 GCITRIC ACID        (tech. grade or food grade)      84 GThese are used in the procedure given above. Simply "plug in" the amountimmediately above for the spoon wise proportions given in the 6% hydrogenperoxide process and the washing would be done with 150 ml cold water. Ofcourse in the procedure if 35% or 40% is the only type hydrogen peroxideavailable, then simply calculate the actual weight of hydrogen peroxide. Weknow that 185 G. of peroxide are used above. This is 30% hydrogenperoxide.185 G. X.30=55.5 G.. We know that we need 55.5 G. hydrogenperoxide. Suppose we have some 40% peroxide. We take our 55.5 and divideby.40 thus 55.5 / 0.40=138.75. Simply use 139.0 G. of this 40% hydrogenperoxide in the procedure above. The yield of this process with 30%hydrogen peroxide is much greater that is the use of 6% hydrogen peroxide.But with the 6% being the easier of the two to obtain it still would holdpossibilitiesPROCESS #2        This second process is one of very easy acquisition of the mainingredients. Yield is not as high as the procedure above with eitherstrength peroxide. This process makes use of the easy formation of hexamineand the parallel formation of a slightly acid solution. This acid isliberated from the ammonium sulfate salt. It is, of course, sulfuric acid.This acid performs the function of the citric acid in the procedure above.This is after the free ammonia and the formaldehyde form hexamine. Yieldwill be relatively low with this procedure but the materials are readilyavailable and cheap. Since this procedure takes place at a elevatedtemperature there will be some lost of product to this subsequent heat andthe decomposition that will accompany it. This process will work and couldbe used if necessary.        Five hundred grams of 3% hydrogen peroxide are placed in a quartjaror 1000 ml beaker. Three percent hydrogen peroxide is available as anantiseptic solution in grocery stores, etc... To this is added fifty gramsammonium sulfate. Ammonium sulfate is available as common fertilizer. Thisis stirred until dissolved. This liquid should be heated in a water bath to55 degrees C. (131 degrees F.). Immediately when the temperature reachesthis temperature add 5.3 grams of 37% formaldehyde solution. Stir thissolution well and take off water bath. Let this liquid cool to roomtemperature and set for 24 hours. A white product will be seen in theliquid at this time.CAUTION: This white product is dangerous and sensitive to FRICTION, SHOCK,HEAT OR FLAME. Handle with great care !! Even wet H.M.T.D. is dangerousand will detonate with ease.        This is filtered out and washed with one washing of 50 ml distilledwater and then with 75 ml of 100% methanol. The methanol will speed thedrying process. This white fluffy powder will be H.M.T.D. This powder willbe sensitive to friction and small quantities should be handled.                        DDNP (Diazodinitrophenol)--DETONATION VELOCITY-4400 M/sec. @ 0.9 G/cc                    6600 M/sec. @ 1.5 G/cc                    6900 M/sec. @ 1.6 G/ccFRICTION SENSITIVITY - Less sensitive than mercury fulminate and the same                       as lead azid.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Small quantities flash like guncotton. Large 6 grams                    and larger would likely detonate.        DDNP is one of the highest in performance of nearly all thehomemade primary explosive. It is stable and compatible with otherexplosives, but, lead azide. This is a good choice for manufacture as theprecursor to this DDNP primary explosive is picric acid. Picric acid ismore powerful than T.N.T. with a detonation rate of 7200 M/sec. itbecomes the base charge for your homemade caps. It is prepared by adiazotization reaction on picramic acid. This is produced from picric acid,sodium hydroxide (lye) and sulfur. See picric acid for it's manufactureinstructions.MANUFACTURE:        In a pint glass jar place 90 ml warm water and 1.5 grams of lye(sodium hydroxide). Mix these with a "teflon" stirrer until all the lye haddissolved. Dissolve 9 grams of picric acid crystals in the lye-watersolution by stirring. Label this jar solution #1. In a 500 ml beaker 3 mlof water is placed. Dissolve 7.5 grams of sulfur and 7.5 grams of lye (sodiumhydroxide) by stirring the solution. Boil this solution over a heat source.When the solution turns dark red remove and allow the liquid to cool. Labelthis solution #2. Add this cooled solution #2 in three portions, tosolution #1. Stir with a teflon rod while the liquid is being added. Againallow the solution mixture cool. Filter this mixture through filter papers(coffee filter, paper towels). Small red particles will gather on thepaper. Discard the liquid. Dissolve these red particle in 180 ml of boilingwater. Remove and filter this hot liquid through a filter paper (coffeefilter, paper towels). Discard the particles left on the paper and labelthe liquid left #3. To Solution t#3 with an eyedropper slowly add sulfuricacid (Janitor supply, boiled battery acid) to the filtered solution untilit turns orange brown. Add an additional 7.5 grams of acid to the liquid.In a separate pintjar, dissolve 5.4 grams of potassium or sodium nitrite in240 ml of water. Label this solution #4. In one portion solution #4 isadded with stirring to solution #3. Allow the solution to stand for 10minutes. The mixture will turn light brown.CAUTION: At this point the brown color is the DDNP that has formed. Keepaway from flame, avoid friction and keep from shock.Filter the light brown solution through a filter paper (paper towel, coffeefilter). Wash the particles left on the paper with 60 ml of water. Allow tocompletely dry for 24 hours. Drying time can be reduced to 2 hours ifcrystals are placed in a shallow pyrex dish and this placed in a hot (notboiling) water bath.CAUTION: DDNP is sensitive to shock, friction and flame. Expose to any ofthese will very likely detonate the compound prematurely.        This powder should be stored in small quantities in stoppered glasscontainers. More safety in storage leave 25% water in the powder and dryimmediately prior to use.                   ACETONE PEROXIDE-(Acetonetriperoxide)DETONATION VELOCITY-3750 M/sec @ 0.92 G/cc                    5300 M/sec @ 1.18 G/ccFRICTION SENSITIVITY - Very sensitive. One of the more sensitive in this                       book.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Burns violently and sometimes detonates even in small                    quantities.        Acetone peroxide is a powerful primary explosive. It, as with otherexplosive peroxides, seems to be very volatile. In standing 10 days at roomtemperature, 50% of the sample will completely volatilize. It is a powerful,brisant explosive. It's vaporizable nature makes it a explosive that wouldhave to be used immediately after manufacture. However, this explosive iscompatible with metals and will not cause their corrosion and thesubsequent dangers involved. It is also compatible with picric acid,R.D.X., T.N.T., P.E.T.N., Tetryl, potassium chlorate and antimony sulfide.        It is highly friction sensitive and extreme care should be taken toavoid this. Acetone peroxide is one of the most sensitive explosive knownto man. Great care would be needed to handle this explosive carefully. Itis a powerful primary base charge in the cap. Also mixtures of R.D.X. andPicric acid with acetone peroxide are reported to be used between primaryexplosive and the base charge.CAUTION: Acetone peroxide one of the most sensitive explosive known to man.this composition is dangerous and would need to be handled by someone witha lot of common sense. Mixtures such as picric acid/acetone peroxide (40/60)or similar mixtures with R.D.X. and P.E.T.N. will give explosives greatlyincreased resistance to impact without losing much initiation performance.        Great care would be needed to ensure the safety of the manufacturerdue to the high sensitivity of the acetone peroxide. These dried crystalswould be ready to load into detonators for immediate use as the storagestability is not very good.MANUFACTURE:        Acetone peroxide is formed when hydrogen peroxide 30% acts onacetone. The introduction of dilute sulfuric acid causes the reaction to gointo completion. Procedure is as follows. 50 ml acetone is placed in a onepint jar or 500 ml beaker. To this is added 30 ml hydrogen peroxide (30%).This liquid is placed in an ice water bath and cooled to 5 degreescentigrade. To this cooled mixture is added 3 ml of sulfuric acid (20%).This addition is done at 5 degrees centigrade and done in a dropwisefashion. When the temperature begins to rise (10 degrees C.), slow theaddition until the temperature falls again. With the completion of theaddition stir the mixture. A flocculent precipitate will form. This isfiltered out after the mixture stands for one hour. Wash the white productthree times with water (distilled preferably). Let the material filteredout of the reaction liquids and washed and dry this solid. By spreading outthe acetone peroxide this drying process can be speeded up. These drycrystals are now ready for loading into the caps as a primary explosives.                                DOUBLE SALTSDETONATION VELOCITY-3600 M/sec. @ 3.96 G/ccFRICTION SENSITIVITY - This primary explosive is on the same order of                       sensitivity as is lead azide.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Burns violently and sometimes detonates even in small                    quantities.        These double salts are a basic acetylide group primary explosive.This explosive has good sensitivity, powder and performance. It is readilymade from silver (coin), nitric acid and calcium carbide/ water oracetylene. This is an easy compound to make. What I found interesting isthe fact that this primary is not photo active. Most silver salts are lightsensitive. This would be a good choice due to the wide availability to themain ingredients. DDNP, HMTD and mercury fulminate, are better primaryexplosives but this one has many possibilities. With this primary explosivesuitable caps could be made and would be very usable and storage stable assome others in this publication could not.MANUFACTURE        Dilute 10.1 ml of nitric acid (red fuming) with 6.75 ml of water.If reagent or technical grade acid is available (70% strength) this willnot need any water mixed with it to reduce the strength. Simply use 17.5 mlof this 70% nitric acid. Place a silver dime or equivalent amount of silvermetal in the acid. It will dissolve leaving a green solution.CAUTION: Avoid the brown gas (nitrogen dioxide) produced when dissolvingthe silver metal in the acid. This gas is a deadly poison and the immediateexposure to the gas and it s subsequent damage will not show up for hoursor even days! This should be done with good ventilation!        It may be necessary to heat the liquid to get the coin or metal tocompletely dissolve. Pour this green solution into a tall slender glass jarsuch as an olive jar. Place this jar with the green solution in it in a hotwater bath and heat. Crystals will form. The heating is continued untilthese crystals dissolve again. In another flask or even a "Coke" bottle,place ten teaspoons of calcium carbide into this flask with a cork with ahose passing through a hole in the cork. Place the other end of the hose inthe tall jar with the solution in it. Remove the stopper from the flask orbottle and add one teaspoon of water.CAUTION: Acetylene gas is highly flammable and an explosion hazard. Keepaway from heat and flame as much as possible.        The gas should begin generating. Add one more teaspoon and placethe stopper back into the container. The acetylene gas generated by thecalcium carbide and water should be going through the hose and bubblingthrough the solution in the tall glass. Bubble this gas through thesolution for 5-8 minutes. Brown vapor will be given off by the liquid as isabsorbs acetylene and white flakes will begin to be formed in the silversolution. Remove the solution from the heat source and allow it to cool.Filter the liquid through a filter paper (paper towel, coffee filter) intoa glass container. Green crystals will be caught on the filter paper. Thesegreen crystals would then be washed with 45 ml alcohol. The crystals willchange from green to white in color and the methanol wash will turn green.Place these white crystals on a paper towel and allow to air dry.CAUTION: Handle this dry explosive with great care. Do not scrape or handleroughly. Keep away from flame or spark source or heat and store in a cooldry place.        These salts will perform well and are easy to make. Their stabilityis good, which is very important. A good choice of primary explosives.                    TACC (Tetraminecopper (II) Chlorate)DETONATION VELOCITY - Not givenFRICTION SENSITIVITY - This primary explosive is as sensitive as is lead                       azideBEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Deflagrates with a green flame. Requires confinement to                    detonate.        Tetramine copper chlorate is a very interesting primary explosive.While it has these good properties it is also easily made. It's drawbacksare the tendency to "deadpress" or become so packed that it will notdetonate the base charge in the cap and water contamination problems. Forthis primary explosive to detonate it must be loose in the detonator shell.It would be best used in caps where the base charge is pressed in first.Rifle shell improvised blasting caps would not work well with thisexplosive due to this property. In this reaction the sodium chlorate andthe copper sulfate are heated together with methanol. This reactionproduced copper chlorate. This copper chlorate dissolved in methanol. Itthen has ammonia gas bubbled thru the solution. The tetramine group isadded in this step. So the main actors in this chemical play are coppersulfate other wise known as "blue vitriol". Copper sulfate is availablefrom feed stores or electroplating chemical supplier. Sodium chlorate isalso a chemical required and would be available from matches, dyes,textiles manufacture and as a weed killer. "Kitchen Improvised PlasticExplosives" has a section on chlorate manufacture in chapters four five andsix. Ammonia is the last building block. This can be generated in one oftwo ways which will be explained in the manufacture section. The methanolused is just a reaction liquid and a carrier, as it does not actually enterinto the reaction. One problem with this process is the contamination ofthe methanol with water. This allows the sodium sulfate to become solublein the first reaction and will remove the ability to separate the productsof the reaction. The process is longer than others but is simple andproduced a good purity, stable product. This primary explosive should bekept dry, as it could begin to decompose in the presence of moisture.MANUFACTURE-        Measure 15 grams of sodium chlorate into a large mouth pint bottle.Sodium chlorate is the oxidizer in matches. It is also available as a weedkiller. Add 360 ml of methanol or ethanol to the sodium chlorate in thepint jar. To this add 24 grams of copper sulfate. Place this liquid in ahot water bath. Heat at the boiling point for 30 minutes with occasionallystirring the liquid during the reaction.CAUTION: Remember methanol is very flammable and great care should be taken         to ensure the lack of open flame in it s proximity. Avoid         breathing the vapors of methanol.Keep the volume constant by continually adding alcohol to replace what isbeing boiled away. After 30 minutes remove the jar from the water bath. Thecolor of the solution should change from blue to light green. Filter thesolution into a jar through a paper towel or drip coffee filter. Thefiltrate (liquid) should be caught in a jar similar to the one used in thefirst step. Label this liquid #1. In a narrow necked gallonjar or flaskand a stopper (one hole) place 1500 ml clear ammonia water in the solution.This is available from the grocery store in a clear non-soapy form. In themouth of this is placed a stopper with one hole and a plastic or rubberhose. This is placed into a hot water bath. Ammonia will begin to generateout of the gallon jug. A better ammonia generator could be made by fillinga long necked bottle or flask with 250 grams lye (sodium hydroxide). 500grams of dry ammonium nitrate fertilizer or ammonium sulfate fertilizer isadded. Addition of small quantities of water and closing with a stopperhose set up could generate greater quantities of ammonia and it would bedrier ammonia due to the nature of its generation. Generation would bemaintained by the addition of more water. But with either method the hoseshould be placed in the liquid in the liquid #1. The ammonia gas should bebubbled through the liquid. It will begin to absorb ammonia turn lightblue. Continue bubbling for 10 minutes.CAUTION: The ammonia gas generated will kill or cause grave damage if         exposure is severe. Use with good ventilation.The solution will turn dark blue. Bubble the ammonia gas through solution#1 for ten more minutes and remove the hose from the solution. Reduce thevolume of the liquid by pouring into a shallow pyrex dish. Set this dishunder a fan and allow 1/2 the alcohol to evaporate. Filter (paper towelor drip coffee filters) the crystals that remain in the liquid and washthem with 50 ml very cold methanol. Set these aside to dry for 16-24 hours.CAUTION: Explosive is shock and flame sensitive and great care should be         exercised during handling.                             MERCURY FULMINATEDETONATION VELOCITY - 3500 M/sec. @2.0 G.cc.                      4250 M/sec. @3.0 G/cc.                      5000 M/sec. @4.0 G/cc.FRICTION SENSITIVITY - Sensitive to friction and shocksBEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Deflagrates when one crystal is ignited. Layers several                    crystals deep detonate violently.        Mercury fulminate had it's industrial beginnings in 1867. AlfredNobel took out a British patent on the blasting cap, its use and makeup.His first blasting caps were simple ones very similar in many ways to theone in this book. Mercury fulminate was chosen out of a field of explosivefulminating compositions. This was mainly due to the stability that couldbe obtained and the ability to lend it's self to commercial manufacture atthat time. Of course, the primary explosives used today are much superiorto mercury fulminate. Mercury fulminate is not good for storage at elevatedtemperatures over 6-12 months. Five years in the magazine could disablecaps. It is a good choice for clandestine manufacture. It would also be avery good choice for electric cap manufacture. The drawbacks would be thepoor elevated temperature storage and the toxic nature of mercury andsubsequent problems in loading.MANUFACTURE        In a pint large mouth fruit jar or 500 ml beaker place either 2 mlwater and 10 ml 90%+ nitric acid. Water first of course. If 70% nitric acidis available then place 11.5 ml of it instead of the 90% in the pintjar.Add 1 1/4 gram of mercury. Mercury should be available in thermometers,mercury switches and in old radio tubes.CAUTION: Mercury fulminate manufacture generates fumes that are poisonous         and this whole procedure should be done with very good ventilation.        The metal in the bottom of the jar should begin to bubble. If notadd water dropwise to the solution until it does. A vigorous effervescentreaction takes place and red fumes are produces. They should be avoided asthey are very poisonous. The mercury will all dissolve in the solution. Ifnot heat gently but from a remote position until it does. After it isdissolved let it cool somewhat. Warm 90 cc of ethanol (90%+, "Everclear")in a quartjar. Add the metal/acid to this ethyl alcohol. The reactionshould start within 5 minutes. The fumes put off by this mixture should beavoided. When the reaction is complete the fumes will have subsided and agrey powder will have settled to the bottom.CAUTION: The fumes produced are poisonous and flammable and they should be         avoided as well as flame should be kept away as fumes are highly         flammable too!Filter the grey powder out of the liquid.CAUTION: The grey powder is the explosive and shock, friction and flame or         heat should be avoided! Contact with the crystals should be         avoided as the free mercury still poses a health problem!        These grey mercury fulminate crystals should be washed with 60 mlethyl alcohol. Allow the crystals to dry by spreading them out gently.These dry mercury fulminate crystals are then ready to use. This explosivecan safely be stored under water and these crystals could be mixed with 200ml distilled water and stored until needed.                                LEAD PICRATEDETONATION VELOCITY - 4400 M/sec.SENSITIVITY - This primary is very sensitive to shock friction and heat or              flame. This sensitivity is high and care should be used in              handling.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Burns violently and sometimes detonates even in small                    quantities.        This is a good choice. The precursors to lead picrate and picricacid, lead monoxide and methanol. PA can be used as the base charge in thecaps therefore reducing problems and simplification of production. It isnot nearly as good a primary explosive as H.M.T.D. or D.D.N.P. but willwork and is simple to make. Litharge, picric acid and methanol is all thatis needed to make this one. This is a very dense heavy primary due to thelead in it's makeup. So from a cap volume use it is in the same class asall the other primaries in this publication.MANUFACTURE        In a shallow glass dish, dissolve two grams of picric acid (see PAsection) in ten ml of methanol. All stirring should be done with a teflonor wooden stirrer. Slowly while stirring add two grams of litharge (leadmonoxide, white lead litharge-plumbing supply stores) to the methanol/PAsolution.CAUTION: At this point this is a primary explosive. Keep away from flame.Continue stirring mixture until all the alcohol has evaporated. When thishappens the mixture will suddenly thicken. Stir the mixture occasionally tostop any lumps from forming.CAUTION: Beware of drying material forming on the inside of the container.         This material will be shock, flame and friction sensitive.Spread this lead picrate in a flat shallow pan to dry. If possible dry themixture on a hot water bath for two hours. This will ultimately give abetter product with more stability.                              NITROGEN SULFIDEFRICTION SENSITIVITY - Very sensitive to friction great care would be                       needed to produce this compound.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Small quantities (less than one gram) deflagrate with a                    puff and larger sizes will detonate.CHARGE WEIGHT - 2.0 Grams in 3/8 copper tubing only.        Nitrogen sulfide is a dangerous compound to make. It is sensitiveto friction and heat. Mercury fulminate is much safer to use from thefriction aspect. This compound is more powerful than mercury fulminate butwith slightly less brisance. Storage stability is good for "straight"nitrogen sulfide. In the proper mixture with potassium chlorate the primaryexplosive is not stable @50 degrees C. for long periods of time. Heat canand will cause detonations. It is however despite these problems, easilyprepared from common ingredients. This preparation is a simple one, with avariety of raw materials. As good a primary explosive as lead picrate. Therecommended filler with this primary explosive is nitrogen sulfide 80% andcompletely dry potassium chlorate 20%. This is mixed and 2 grams are loadedover the charge and pressed on top the base charge. Better primaryexplosives can be had but this one is easy and expedient.MANUFACTURE        Place 100 grams of finely powdered sulfur (brimstone: garden supplystore, pharmacy, industrial chemical supply) is placed in a tall narrowflask or narrow necked bottle equipped with a two hole stopper and placedin a frying pan filled with oil and heated until the sulfur melts (215degrees C., 420 degrees F.). In this place a hose from the chlorine gasgenerator. This generator is a gallon jar with either liquid laundry bleach(5.25% Sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution) or 31% hydrochloric (Muriaticacid, swimming pool supply). to the bleach (total 1.2 gallons) is added insmall portions sodium bisulfite ("Saniflush": bathroom cleaners, sodiumacid sulfite, swimming pool additive). This generation with the bleach/bisulfite generator should have the bleach split into three equal amountsand reacted with the bisulfite one at a time. The second and third. 4gallon refill should be done only after the green gas is no longergenerated by new sodium bisulfite additions. The spent bleach is poured outof the gallonjug. The second or third fill are poured into the jug theprocess repeated until all three 2/5 gallon bleach solutions are reactedand the chlorine bubbled through the molten sulfur. To 255 gramshydrochloric acid is added 53 grams manganese dioxide (black manganeseoxide: dry cell battery mfg., phosphating solutions, steel mfg.) in smallportions. This is done in small additions until all the manganese dioxideis dissolved and the chlorine has stopped it's bubbling.CAUTION: Chlorine gas is toxic avoid contact and used with very good         ventilation. Used as a war gas in WWI.        Immediately after the addition and beginning chlorine generationplace a one hole stopper to which some stainless steel or plastic (heatresistant) tubing has been inserted in the hole. The other end of this hosedirects the chlorine gas generated through the two hole stopper into thebottom of the now molten sulfur. The other hole of the two hole stopper hasa hose inserted just through the stopper. The end of this hose is placedinto a flask or narrow necked bottle cooled by a salted ice bath. Thissulfur will begin to absorb the chlorine generated. This reaction formingsulfur dichloride. A total of 42 grams of chlorine need to be absorbed bythe sulfur. As this chlorine is dissolved sulfur dichloride will begin toform. Sulfur is very soluble in sulfur chlorides and will begin to bedissolved in the chloride already formed. This sulfur chloride willvaporize and collect in the bottle chilled by the salted ice bath. This isdone until the temperature drops and begins to boil. Continue to pass thechlorine gas through the liquid. After all the chlorine has gone throughthe sulfur heat until the sulfur liquid no longer boils. Heat for anotherten minutes and allow to cool. The last flask should have caught most ofthe sulfur dichloride liquid. Take the mixture off the heat and allow tocool. Dissolve 212 gram of this liquid in 1700 grams benzene (commonindustrial solvent).CAUTION: Sulfur dichloride (Sulfur chloride) is a pungent oily liquid. Allcontact should be avoided! All steps of this process should be carried outwith good ventilation. Benzene is a very dangerous liquid. Contact with theskin, breathing of the vapors are dangerous and should be avoided. Greatcare should be used when handling this known carcinogen. It is also highlyflammable.        Filter this solution through a paper coffee filter. This filteringshould remove nearly all the sulfur. The remaining liquid should have nosolids in it. Then ammonia gas generator is set up and ammonia gas isbubbled through the solution. The ammonia generator (ammonium nitrate/lye)is described in TACC section of the primary explosive section of this book.A dark brown powdery powder will collect in the bottom as the ammoniabubbles through the liquid. Keep bubbling the ammonia gas through thesolution. Until this brown powder dissolves in the solution and a orange-yellow color is observed. Flocculent ammonia chloride crystals are seen inthe liquid. Warm the benzene until it boils. Filter immediately through afilter with 200 grams fresh benzene. Add this benzene wash to theliquid just filtered (filtrate). Let this liquid evaprate until a mushycrystalline mass remains and filter. Let these crystals dry. These goldenyellow to orange-red are nitrogen sulfide.CAUTION: This explosive is friction, flame and shock sensitive. Handle with         the greatest care.        This powder must be pressed into the cap using the apparatus shownin the cap manufacture section for proper performance and moisture shouldbe avoided. Contamination with sulfur in mixtures with potassium chloratecould very well cause an explosion!                              SILVER FULMINATEFRICTION SENSITIVITY - Extremely friction sensitive! Should not be used if                       other primary explosives can be made.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Single crystals explode violently. Larger amounts than                    given in the process below should not be made.CHARGE WEIGHT - 1.0 G. compound cap        Silver fulminate (SF) is an extremely dangerous compound. Frictionflame and sometimes contact with the dried product will cause it'sdetonation. It's performance is fair and the acquisition of the rawingredients is simple. Never used due to the extremely unstable nature ofSF. If other primary explosive options existed they would be better choicethan this one. To use this primary explosive it must be mixed with tapiocastarch (flour) to reduce this explosive extreme sensitivity. It is easilyobtained due to the abundance of silver (coins, powder, ingots). Smallbatches of SF should be made with protective barricades between theoperator and the reaction vessel. Again this explosive is dangerous andshould be avoided if at all possible.MANUFACTURE        Place 6 ml nitric acid (1.42 G/cc common technical grade acid or"watered" down stronger acid) in a 100 ml pyrex beaker containing 1.2 mlwater and heated to 95-100 degrees F.. Place one gram of silver, (coins,bars, powder) in this acid solution.CAUTION: This addition should be done with excellent ventilation as the         nitrogen dioxide fumes generated are very toxic even in small         quantities!This will begin to bubble as the silver is dissolved. This will form silvernitrate in a very acid solution. When the silver dissolves (gentle heatingmay be necessary to get all the mercury to dissolve). In a 500 ml beakersurrounded by an ice bath place 15 ml 95% + ethyl alcohol ("Everclear" orredistilled concentrate whiskey etc.) and add the silver/acid solution tothe liquid not allowing the temperature to rise above 65 degrees C.CAUTION: This addition will cause the generation of poison gases and should         be done with good ventilation.        A vigorous reaction will take place with this addition. Dense whitepoisonous fumes are given off. As time lapses, the density of these fumeswill diminish. The reaction will subside in 20-25 minutes. When the foamingreaction ceases, pour this solution into 200 ml water. The white crystalsare then allowed to settle and the clear liquid on top poured off. Add 0.25gram tapioca starch to the white crystals and filter the solution. Thecrystals filtered out through a paper towel or drip coffee filter. They arethen washed with 30 cc ethanol. These crystals are then used in an areaaway from sunlight.CAUTION: This white powder is extremely flame, friction and lightsensitive. Friction and impacts should be avoided and the material shouldbe expected to explode at any time. Again this explosive is dangerous evenfor someone with much laboratory experience. This composition should beavoided and it's manufacture undertaken only as a last resort.                     NITROMANNITE (Mannite hexanitrate)DETONATION VELOCITY - 7000m/sec. @1.50 G/ccFRICTION SENSITIVITY - As sensitive as nitroglycerin. The sensitivity is                       greater when between two hard surfaces.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Will deflagrate under some conditions but local over-                    heating from a match will cause detonation.        Mannite is a simple sugar. It finds wide use as a baby laxative, inartificial resins and as a pharmaceutical dilutant. It can, throughnitration, become a superb base charge for blasting caps. This explosive isattractive because of it's power and performance characteristics. It has ahigh detonation rate, good brisance and initiation properties. It hasseveral bad points. It requires concentrated acid (90%+) which is harder toprepare. It has elevated temperature storage problems with greatlyincreased sensitivity. This instability is brought on by storage at 75degrees C. for two days. The mixture of tetracene and nitromannite (40/60)will give a powerful brisant primary explosive that detonates frommoderate heat. Nitromannite is usually used straight as a base charge forblasting caps with  0.75 gram charge weights giving 100% reliability.MANUFACTURE        One hundred grams of nitric acid (Specific Gravity 1.51 G/cc) isplaced in a quart jar or 800-1000 ml beaker. This is cooled by surroundingwith a salted ice bath. 20.2 G. mannite is added in very small portionswith gentle stirring. The temperature should be kept below 0 degrees C.This is done by controlling the amount of time between the additions of themannite. When the temperature approaches 0 degrees C. stop additions untilthe temperature has fallen some. After all the mannite has be added 200 G.98% sulfuric acid is added dropwise to the solution. This is done while themixture is stirred and with the temperature below 0 degrees C, temperatureis again maintained by the speed of the addition. When the temperaturerises close to 0 degrees stop the addition and allow the liquid reactionmass to cool before addition is resumed. Completing the addition ofsulfuric acid the porridge-like mixture is stirred for 5 minutes and thenfiltered. This filtering can be done through hardened filter paper or 10drip coffee filters (simultaneously). This product is washed with water andthen washed with 5% sodium bicarbonate/water solution. Then the crystalsare washed again with water. This crude product is then dissolved inboiling alcohol with as much dissolved as possible. Place this container ina refrigerator and when chilled filter through one drip coffee filter. Theliquid remaining is reheated and water is added until a turbidity is seen(churning of the solution). Allow to cool and filter the crystals out ofthis solution. Completely dry the material and it is ready to use. Could bekept under water for safety until ready to use.                   R.D.X. (Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine)DETONATION VELOCITY - 5830 M/sec. @1.00 G/cc                      8360 M/sec. @1.67 G/ccFRICTION SENSITIVITY - Slightly less sensitive than T.N.T. but with 180%                       the actual power. Particle size reduction should be                       done while wet.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Burns with a yellow flame. Very seldom if ever                    transforms into detonation.        R.D.X. is a powerful explosive. It is very stable and has goodstorage properties. It is widely used commercially as a base explosivecharge in detonators and blasting caps. One gram of R.D.X. in a cap with aprimary charge will detonate anything a #8 cap will detonate. For theprocess to make R.D.X. from camp stove fuel - see chapter 2 in "KitchenImprovised Plastic Explosives" This process while not simple will produce agood product. This is a superb explosive and can find many uses. P.E.T.N.is the only explosive that really is close to being as good a base chargeexplosive as R.D.X. In "Kitchen Improvised Plastic Explosives II" there isa new process to manufacture R.D.X. Below is a process for extracting thisexplosive powder from "C-4" plastique explosive. The product will be asgood as any for base charge use. C-4 could also be used as a base charge asis!EXTRACTION - Take a 1/2 pound block of C-4 and place in a containerimpervious to gasoline. Add one liter of gasoline. Let this gasoline soakthe block until the plasticizers are dissolved (just a powder is settled onthe bottom of container) and filter the gasoline. Save the powder anddiscard the gasoline filtrate. Let this powder dry until it is freeof gasoline. This should yield 206 grams of R.D.X.. This powder is ready touse as a base charge in a improvised blasting cap.                     PETN (Pentaerythrite Tetranitrate)DETONATION VELOCITY - 5830 M/sec. @ 1.09 G/cc.                      7490 M/sec. @ 1.51 G/cc.                      8300 M/sec. @ 1.77 G/cc.FRICTION SENSITIVITY - Sensitive to friction between two hard surfacesBEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Burns quietly after melting with a slightly luminous                    flame.        PETN is a powerful explosive. It's power is slightly greater thanR.D.X. and it is slightly more sensitive to initiation. It is powerful,stable, safe and efficient for the manufacture of improvised blasting caps.PETN is found, in it's common form, as the filler in detonating cord(E-cord etc.). If a person had access to this detonating cord he couldsalvage the PETN out of the cord by splitting it and simply scraping outthe filler with a pocket knife or similar tool. The larger primer cordcould yield as much as 1.7 lb. (771 grams) of the powder per hundred feetof cord. If access was available this method would be much better andeasier than actual manufacture. This manufacture requires the acquisitionof fuming nitric acid. This can be bought or made. For manufacture seechapter 2 of "Kitchen Improvised Plastic Explosives" Then thepentaerythrite must be obtained. It is available and is used in the paintand varnish industries as well as in the manufacture of synthetic resins.It is cheap, but could raise a few questions in it's acquisition. Sulfuricacid is available from cleaning supply houses and as some generic drainopeners. This is one of the best choices for cap base charge explosives. Ithas great power and will, in a properly constructed cap, give superreliable detonation initiation.MANUFACTURE-        In a quartjar or a 1000 ml beaker place 400 ml 99% strong whitenitric acid. This acid can be bought from a laboratory supply or the fumingred acid produced in process in "Kitchen Improvised Plastic Explosives".This fuming red acid will need to have the excess nitrogen dioxide purgeduntil it is clear. This is done by adding 2-3 grams urea (45-0-0 fertilizerwill work) to the acid. The mixture should clear up and loose the red tint.If not, warm the acid in the beaker and bubble dry air through the mixture.With the clear, white acid in the beaker place this beaker in a salted icebath. Let it cool to below 0 degrees C.. Add with stirring 100 grams ofpentaerythrite in small portions to the acid. The addition is done as sucha speed that the temperature of the solution does not rise to more than 5degrees C. When the addition is complete stir the acid/pentaerythritesolution for 15 more minutes. The crystals of the product will probablyalready have formed somewhat in the liquid.CAUTION: At this point the crystals are a high explosive and should be         treated with respect.        This solution is then poured into a previously prepared gallonjarwith 2 1/2 quarts of cracked ice and water. PETN will immediately form andshould be filtered out of the solution through a paper towel or drip coffeefilters. This should yield 220 grams. This product needs purification. Washthese crystals 3 times with water and then wash 1 time with a 5% sodiumbicarbonate solution. Wash once more with water and then dissolve thecrystals in hot acetone. Let this cool and the crystals will begin to fallout of solution. Add an equal volume of water to the acetone and thecrystals will fall out of solution. Filter these crystals out and wash withmethanol and let them dry. This PETN can be dried by either simply airdrying for 24 hours or by drying in a hot water bath. These dried crystalsare ready to use.                        PICRIC ACID (trinitrophenol)DETONATION VELOCITY - 4965 M/sec. @0.97 G/cc                      6510 M/sec. @1.4 G/cc                      7480 M/sec. @1.7 G/ccFRICTION SENSITIVITY - More sensitive than T.N.T. but not substantially.                       Metals should be coated to ensure the formation of                       picrate salts. Coating copper tubing or rifle cases                       with urethane plastic spray could prevent this form                       happening.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Small quantities burn with a sooty flame after melting.                    Large quantities can transform the deflagration into                    detonation in some rare instances.        Picric acid is a good choice of explosive base charges in caps.Relative performance would be 120% (T.N.T.=100%). Nitrophenols have beenwith us for a while. Their creation from nitric acid and animal horn wasthe first of these discoveries. Nearly 100 years passed before researchersfound out it could be made to explode. It is this relative insensitivity ofthe material and it's good primary sensitivity yield many used for thisexplosive. It is very stable in storage with samples from late 1800'sshowing little signs of deterioration. The only reason that we do not usePA as an explosive in modern ordinance is mostly from a cost standpoint. PAcan be reacted with ammonium hydroxide to form "Explosive D". This is asuperb shaped charge explosive and does find some demolition andspecialized munition loading. Brisance is very high for picric acid and itwill detonate easily from the primary explosives in the primary section ofthe publication. Picric acid is poisonous and all contact should beavoided. This process uses the phenol byproduct used everyday as ananalgesic. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) in it's purified form, sulfuricacid (98%) and sodium or potassium nitrate are the ingredients. Aspirin isavailable in any drug store or supermarket. Sulfuric acid is available atjanitorial supply houses and plumbing suppliers. Battery acid that has beenboiled until white fumes appear will also work. Sodium or potassium nitrateshould be available from hobby stores and as stump remover in gardenstores. The methanol carrier can be found at hardware stores and fromjanitorial supplies. Caution should be used in handling the product of theprocess below. Contact should be avoided. Contact includes breathing dustand exposure of the skin or any other part of the body. Liver and kidneyfailure could result. Use gloves and retire any utensil that will be usedin the process.MANUFACTURE        Crush 100 aspirin tablets. Powder these crushed aspirin tablets. Tothem add 500 ml alcohol (95%) This alcohol will dissolve theacetylsalicylic acid in the aspirin and leave all the pill fillers in solidform in the bottom. Stir this aspirin/alcohol liquid for five minuteswhile warming it gently. Filter the warm liquid and keep the filtrate(liquid) and discard the remainder. Evaporate this liquid in a shallow panin a hot water or oil bath. Collect the dried acetylsalicylic acidcrystals. Place 700 ml sulfuric acid in the bottom of a gallonjar. To thisacid is added the acetylsalicylic acid crystals from above. This gallonjaris placed in an oil bath (electric frying pan would be easiest but flameheat will work). This is heated with stirring until all the crystals aredissolved in the hot acid. The crystals having dissolved will allow you tobegin the addition of sodium or potassium nitrate. This addition is done inthree portions, allowing the acid mixture to cool some between additions.CAUTION: The addition of the nitrate to the hot acid will generate nitrogen         dioxide which is a deadly poison. This step should be carried out         with excellent ventilation!        This liquid will react vigorously, as the 75 grams of either of thenitrates are added to the solution in this three part addition. Thesolution should turn red and then back to the yellow-orange color. Afterthe additions let the solution cool to room temperature while stirringoccasionally. Pour this room temperature solution into 1500 ml of crackedice and water (1/4 ice). The product will precipitate out immediately as abrilliant yellow compound. Filter through a paper towel or 5 drip coffeefilters in a funnel. Wash these crystals with 450 ml cold water. Discardthe filtrate (liquid remaining after filtering). The yellow crystals aretrinitrophenol. These crystals need to be dried for 3 hours on a boilingwater bath or on a 1O5 degree C. oil bath. They are then ready to load intoa detonator as a base explosive. Avoid contact with the yellow compositionas it is highly poisonous. Wear gloves (viton) when working with thisexplosive.                     M.M.A.N. (Monomethylamine nitrate)DETONATION VELOCITY - 6100 M/sec. @ 1.2 G/cc                      6600 M/sec. @ 1.4 G / ccFRICTION SENSITIVITY - Very insensitive. Similar to T.N.T..BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Burns if heated to 370-390 degrees C. and will burn                    completely in 6-8 seconds.  M.M.A.N. is a powerful explosive with 112-120% the power of T.N.T.with a greater detonation rate. This explosive is not as sensitive asothers in this publication to primary explosive requiring 2 G. mercuryfulminate or 1.25 grams of H.M.T.D. Methylamine is a basic building blockof modern chemistry. It is an intermediary for hundreds of more commonchemicals. It is easily obtained or purchased cheaply. Nitric acid does notrequire highly concentrations with as low as 20% acid strength workingperfectly. This is a good feature as requirements for explosives made withconcentrated acids take time to produce and cannot be produced as fast orcheaply. This explosive is simple enough that it would require littleexperience and few setups in a lab. This explosive is very hygroscopic. Itwill absorb its weight in water at a relative humidity of 50% in 21 days.The other drawback of this explosive is the fact that it requires largerquantities of primary explosive as other base explosives. Both areacceptable and the hygroscopic nature of the salt can be controlled byloading caps on "dry days" of low humidity. These caps should also bedipped into molten wax to ensure their "waterproofness". This explosive isbest used in a cap made with 3/8" tubing because 5 grams of this explosiveare required. This will give a detonator 3/8" x 2-3/4". This cap shouldhave the primary loaded first as the base explosive does not need the highdensity that the primary needs for maximum performance. Load this basecharge explosive to a density of 1.2 G/cc. Higher densities will cause theexplosive to become insensitive to the primary explosive. This cap shoulddetonate most explosives and will be a great deal more powerful than a #10blasting cap.MANUFACTURE - Place 250 ml of 33% methylamine aqueous solution in astainless bowl or beaker. Add in four portions either 832 G. 70% nitricacid, 971 G. 60% nitric acid or 583 G.100% nitric acid + 250 ml water. Agood deal of heat will be generated by this neutralization. The solutionwill boil due to the heat. Allow the heat from the previous additions tosubside before the next addition is made. After the additions have beenmade check the solution with PH paper (e. mark brand) from your lab supplystore. If the PH is above 7 add acid 1/4 teaspoon at a time until the PHis between 6 and 7. If when checked the PH is 6 or below then addmethylamine solution until the PH rises to between 6 and 7. This liquid isthen put in a vacuum flask with a stopper. This will be placed in a hot oilbath (frying pan filled with good cooking oil). The oil bath should be 75degrees C. (167 degrees F.). The flask is hooked up to a vacuum source andthe vacuum applied. The vacuum will allow the waters removal in a muchquicker amount of time. The vacuum source can be an aspirator type (costaround $5.00). This is the ideal source of vacuum. A gauge is placed in theline and the vacuum drawn at first recorded. This vacuum will remain thesame until the water is all evaporated. At this point the vacuum suddenlywill increase greatly. This signifies the end point. The crystals in theflask are scraped out in a dry (atmospheric humidity) room. This is placedin a sealed container to keep moisture our of the solutions. This is theexplosive. It could be toxic if eaten in large quantities but at worst,prolonged handling of this explosive will give only a rash. The only thingto remember is to keep away from moisture and keep in a sealed container.Load large 3/8" diameter caps with 4-6 grams of MMAN as a base charge withlarge charges of primary explosives. Seal the caps immediately by dippingin hot molten wax. These caps are powerful and will take most of a forearmoff a foolish person.               TETRYL (2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine)DETONATION VELOCITY - 7260 M/sec. @ 1.6 G/ccFRICTION SENSITIVITY - Comparable to T.N.T.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Burns slowly very rarely exploding.        This is one of the better base charge explosives. This is stillused in the military but R.D.X. and P.E.T.N. are replacing it. Generating4.4 million P.S.I. upon detonation this is a good choice. The corrosivenessof the salt to brass limits it's use to copper tubing caps manufacture. Italso is not made of the most common ingredients but these could be found ifthe desire was great enough. Very sensitive to primary explosives but notsensitive to normal handling. More powerful than picric acid. Could be aninteresting possibility for improvised blasting caps.MANUFACTURE-        Sixty grams of dimethylaniline is dissolved in 850 grams sulfuricacid (janitorial supply) in a quart jar or 600 ml beaker in cool waterbath. The temperature of the liquid during this addition should be keptbelow 25 degrees C. This liquid (solution # 1) is added by pouring into aseparatory funnel or similar container equipped with a valve. This is doneso solution #1 can be metered out drop by drop. Solution #1 can be meteredout drop by drop. Solution # 1 is added drop by drop into 515 grams of 70%nitric acid in a two liter beaker or pyrex equivalent heated in an oil bathto 55 to 60 degrees C. Solution #2 is stirred vigorously, while thetemperature is kept at 65 to 70 degrees C.. This addition will requireapproximately one hour. After all solution #1 has been added to solution#2, the stirring is continued and the temperature is kept at between 65 and70 degrees C. for an hour longer. The solution is allowed to cool and thenfiltered with an asbestos filter or fiberglass filter. The solid materialis boiled with water for one hour and filtered again on a paper filter.Water will need to be added from time to time to keep the water levelconstant. This is then ground while wet and dissolved in benzene(industrial solvent) and the solution filtered. The filtrate (liquid) issaved and the liquid allowed to evaporate. The resulting crystals aretetryl and will be yellow in color. These crystals should be of sufficientquality and particle size.[Yes, the author does not specify solution #2 anywhere... and we probablyknow by now that solution #1 can be metered out drop by drop :) ]                        TETRANITRONAPTHALENE (TeNN)DETONATION VELOCITY - 7000 M/sec. @ 1.6 G/cc (In 1/4" aluminum Tube)FRICTION SENSITIVITY - Similar to T.N.T.BEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Rapid heating can cause detonations!        These yellow crystals are prepared by the nitration of napthaleneflakes in a two stage nitration. The product of the first stage is thedinitronapthalene. This "di" product is nitrated to the "tetra". This isdone in two different nitration steps. This product can be considered theequivalent of T.N.T. in power with a slightly greater detonation rate. Thistetra compound is stable even at elevated "magazine" temperatures and is anexplosive of greater power and brisance than T.N.T.. Has been proposed anartillery shell filler. T.N.T. has been cheaper due to continuousmanufacture processes. It is however a powerful explosive with detonatorusage promise. It has the same impact properties as does Tetryl with thesame potential. It is easily made from napthalene, nitric acid and sulfuricacid. These compounds are easy to come by and thus would make this a easilymanufactured product. Napthalene flakes, balls or powder are used asinsecticides and are familiarly known as "Moth balls". Sulfuric acid iseasily obtained from plumbing and janitorial supplies. Nitric acid can bemade see "Kitchen Improvised Plastic Explosives" Recovery of spent acids inboth steps will reduce acid demand and can be done by heating the spentacid until white fumes are produced.CAUTION: Care should be taken to avoid all fumes from heated acid mixturesand that this spent acid being recovered is free of nitronapthaleneproducts. Failure to do this could result in a very violent explosion!Great care should be used to ensure the lack of remaining nitro compoundsin the spent acid solutions. Caps should have a 1.5 G.+ charge of TeNN forbest performance. This explosive should be loaded to a density of 1.6 G/cc.This explosive will melt around 200-210 C.CAUTION: This meltable explosive should be used in its crystalline form.The melt loading should only be attempted by someone with chemistry labexperience. Rapid heating will most likely cause a high order detonationand fatalities! This heating would be done slowly as rapid heating couldcause detonation. This melted compound could then be cast into thedetonator case prior to loading the primary explosive. This could producecharges that required greater amounts of primary explosive to ensuredetonation!MANUFACTURE:        Tetranitronapthalene is produced by nitration of napthalene.Napthalene is a coal tar or synthetic petrochemical. It is readilyavailable in the form of moth balls, moth flakes or moth crystals. Place 64grams in a 2 liter beaker of "pyrex"container. 'To this add 105 ccdistilled water. Slowly add 287 grams (160 cc) concentrated sulfuric acidof a concentration of greater than 90% strength (Specific gravity 1.8).CAUTION: Addition should always be acid to water and never water to acid. Theacids used in this process are very dangerous and should be used with greatcare. Goggles and full protective gear should be worn. Fumes produced shouldbe avoided at all costs. This whole process should be done under a venthood or in a very well ventilated place!        The temperature of this acid mixture will rise immediately. To thisis added 115 grams (81 cc) of 70% nitric acid. This mixed acid is allowedto cook to room temperature. 150 grams of napthalene is added slowly withstirring in small portions over a three hour period while the temperatureis allowed to rise to 50 degrees C. When all the napthalene is added, thebeaker or "Pyrex" container is heated to 55 degrees in a oil bath, whichmelts the crude mononitronapthalene. The stirring is then stopped and theMNN allowed to solidify. This solid MNN is broken up off the top and placedin a second acid mixture. This acid mixture is prepared by placing 130 ccwater in a 1000 cc beaker or "Pyrex"container. To it is slowly, carefullyadded 293 G. sulfuric acid (162 ml) density 1.8 G/ cc. (95% +). Thismixture will heat up when mixed and should be cooled to 25 degrees C. byplacing in an ice bath. When the acid mixture is at 25 degrees 152 grams ofpotassium nitrate is added. The mixture is stirred vigorously and theaddition of the MNN from above is begun. It is added in small quantitieskeeping the temperature between 38-45 degrees C. by the speed of theaddition. During this addition (1 hour +), the temperature is not allowedto rise to over 45 degrees C. After one hour, the temperature is allowedto rise to 55 degrees C. and the stirring is continued. This is continueduntil the emulsion is replaced by the formation of DNN crystals. Thesecrystals are then filtered out by a glass fiber filter (fiberglass). Thesecrystals are washed six times with cold water and allowed to dry. These arethen dissolved in boiling acetone. Not all will dissolve. Filter thissolution while hot and allow to cool. Chill this solution and crystals willform. Filter out the crystals that form. Reduce the volume of the acetone by1/2 and chill again and filter. Add the crystals together from theseacetone recrystallization steps and allow to dry. These crystals will be agood grade of 1.8 Dinitrotapthalene. These crystals will be nitrated, inthe process below, to the tetro form.        Place 750 ml fuming nitric acid, of90% or greater strength (SeeKitchen Improvised Plastic Explosives), in a two liter "pyrex" container ora 2000 ml beaker. Add to this very slowly and carefully 750 ml concentratedsulfuric acid. This acid mixture is stirred and cooled in a ice bath untilthe temperature drops below 20 degrees C. The 1.8, DNN from above is addedin small quantities while the temperature is not allowed to rise above 20degrees C. When all the DNN has been added, the temperature is allowed torise slowly. Heat will need to be applied. This heating should be done suchthat the temperature rises from 20 to 80 degrees C. for three hours andthen allowed to cool. The solid formed is filtered out and the filtrate(liquid remaining after filtering) drowned in twice it's volume of icewater. This step will drop more crystals out of the filtrate. These arefiltered out and added to the crystals filtered out of the reactionmixture. These are then washed three times with water and then dissolved inhot from 95% ethanol. This alcohol is chilled and then the crystals formedare filtered out. This last step is not necessary, but highly desirable togive a very storage stable product.        These crystals are 1,3,6,8-tetranitronapthalene. They should bedried by heating in a shallow pyrex dish by the way of a hot water bath.                               NITROGUANIDINEDETONATION VELOCITY - 5630 M/sec. @ 1.0 G/cc.                      7650 M/sec. @ 1.5 G/cc.FRICTION SENSITIVITY - Very insensitiveBEHAVIOR TO FLAME - Melts with sublimation and decomposition.        Nitroguanidine is a powerful explosive. First made from bat guano,by extraction and formation of guanidine nitrate and subsequent treatmentof this nitrate with sulfuric acid (95% +) and filtration of the product.This explosive is similar in performance to picric acid and T.N.T.. Whilenot being quite as brisant as these two explosives the ease of manufactureand lack of friction sensitivity make nitroguanidine an attractive choicefor a blasting cap base charge explosive. It is a cool explosive and doesnot give a high temperature of detonation but gives a larger volume ofgases upon detonation. This base charge explosive, should be loaded in thecaps with the density not exceeding 1.35 G./cc. Excess loading densitieswill render the base charge undetonatable with 1.5 G. charges of H.M.T.D..This explosive will work and work well and is very storage stable. Largerdiameter cap containers (3/8" +) should be used to ensure propagation ofthe detonation through the entire cap. Given below is the manufacturetechniques for production of nitroguanidine. This procedure will work wellbut is rather lengthy and labor intensive.MANUFACTURE        Obtain two clay flower pots with a small hole in their bottoms. Fitted to one of these isstainless steel tubing. A refractory made from "firebrick" and fired by charcoal shouldbe built. The flower pots will need to fit into this refractory and have ample roomaround them to pack the charcoal. An air blower (e.g. hairdryer, vacuum cleaner ishooked up to blow air through the coal to generate the heat needed. In the bottomflower-pot, a stainless steel screen will be needed to keep from clogging the stainlesssteel tubing from the ammonia inlet tube. Place 200 grams of calcium carbonate(Limestone, chalk) in the bottom flower pot, with the stainless tubing attached. Placethe other flowerpot upside down directly on top of the bottom pot. Place this in therefractory furnace and place a pyrometer or high temperature thermometer into thehole in the top clay flower pot. Start the furnace and blow air through the burningcharcoal until the temperature inside the pots reaches 700 degrees C.. At this timebegin to pass ammonia gas through the stainless tubing into the lime inside. Thetemperature should never go over 820 degrees C. as the lime will decompose. Theammonia generator the gas generator in the TACC section. The amounts needed in thegenerator are 170 G. ammonium nitrate fertilizer, 100 G. sodium hydroxide andadding 100 ml water to the mixture. This water addition would be done in smallportions to ensure the absorption of the gas by the calcium carbonate. This gas needsto be generated slowly! When all the ammonium nitrate has been added and the gasceases to generate from the generator deprive the charcoal of oxygen to extinguish theflame. Let the refractory furnace cool and remove the flowerpots from it. The blackmaterial in the bottom is calcium cyanamide.        Place 216 grams of urea in a stainless steel pan. Heat until itbegins to melt. Add in small portions 1300 grams ammonium nitrate.CAUTION: This is dangerous and extreme care should be used in this step.         This mixture could explode if allowed to burn. Water should be         used if a fire does break out by immediate dilution and quenching         of the reaction mixture!!        Keep the temperature of the melt at 120 degrees centigrade. Whenthe addition of the ammonium nitrate is complete and the mixture is liquidand at 120 degrees C. the calcium cyanamide from above is added in portionsover a twenty minute period. This mixtures temperature is held at 120degrees C. for two hours and then diluted with 720 ml water. This liquid isheated to 95 degrees C. and then filtered through several coffee filters ora "fast" filter paper. The liquid thus obtained is allowed to cool to 25degrees C. and then the crystals formed are filtered out. The liquid isreduced to 1/2 its volume by boiling. It is cooled and filtered and thecrystals obtained are added to those from the first filtration. Thesecrystals are washed with 40 ml cold water. They are then dried in a shallowpyrex dish while heated in a hot oil bath at 110 degrees C. for two hours.These crystals are guanidine nitrate (90% purity).        Immerse a one liter flask, containing 500 ml. concentrated sulfuricacid, in cracked ice. This acid is stirred until the temperature drops to10 degrees C. or less. In small portions, add 400 grams of dry guanidinenitrate to the acid with stirring to keep the temperature below 11 degreesC.. When all the guanidine nitrate is dissolved, pour the now milky liquidinto three liters of cracked ice and water. Let this stand until thenitroguanidine is completely crystallized out of the liquid. Filter thesecrystals out and dissolve in four liters of boiling water (distilled ifpossible). Allow to cool by standing overnight and filter the crystals out.Dry these crystals by heating gently in a container placed in a pan ofboiling water. This dried material is then ready to store in a plasticcontainer or to load into finished caps.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
<!-- BEGIN 250Free Advertising - REMOVE THIS CODE WHEN EDITING PAGE -->

<! -- Needed for MaxOnline and Google Search Box -->
<script>
fiSearchFormMaxObj=new Object();
fiSearchFormMaxObj.type=1;
fiSearchFormMaxObj.clrBdr='#003399';
fiSearchFormMaxObj.clrTtlTxt='#003399';
fiSearchFormMaxObj.clrTagTxt='#800000';
fiSearchFormMaxObj.width='400';
fiSearchFormMaxObj.noBorder=false;
fiSearchFormMaxObj.searchSite = new Object();
fiSearchFormMaxObj.searchSite.domain = 'kaosroolz.250free.com';
fiSearchFormMaxObj.searchSite.layout = 'vertical';
fiSearchFormMaxObj.searchSite.formType = 'radio';
fiSearchFormMaxObj.searchSite.webText = 'Search the web';
fiSearchFormMaxObj.searchSite.siteText = 'Search kaosroolz.250Free.com';
fiSearchFormMaxObj.searchSite.selected = 'web';
fiSearchFormMaxObj.clrSiteTxt = '#000000';
</script>

<!-- phpAds - Google 300x250 footer and Google Search Box -->
<center><img src="http://www.250free.com/images/ad_spacer.gif" height="7"><br>

<script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript' src='http://www.250free.com/adserv/adx.js'></script>
<script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript'>
<!--
   if (!document.phpAds_used) document.phpAds_used = ',';
   phpAds_random = new String (Math.random()); phpAds_random = phpAds_random.substring(2,11);
   
   document.write ("<" + "script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript' src='");
   document.write ("http://www.250free.com/adserv/adjs.php?n=" + phpAds_random);
   document.write ("&amp;what=zone:13");
   document.write ("&amp;exclude=" + document.phpAds_used);
   document.write ("&amp;source=");
   if (document.referrer)
      document.write ("&amp;referer=" + escape(document.referrer));
   document.write ("'><" + "/script>");
//-->
</script><noscript><a href='http://www.250free.com/adserv/adclick.php?n=a6ff6241' target='_blank'><img src='http://www.250free.com/adserv/adview.php?what=zone:13&amp;n=a6ff6241&source=' border='0' alt=''></a></noscript>

</center>
<!-- End - phpAds - Search Box -->

<!-- phpAds - MaxOnline Footer - Should only show when MaxOnline Header Ad shows -->
<center><img src="http://www.250free.com/images/ad_spacer.gif" height="7"><br>
<script>
if (typeof topbar_banner_0_ad == "function") { topbar_banner_0_ad(); }
</script></center>

<p align="center">
<!--Begin TheFreeSite.com Coding -->
<A HREF="http://www.thefreesite.com" TARGET="_top">
<IMG SRC="http://www.250free.com/images/user_footer_thefreesite.gif" WIDTH="262" HEIGHT="17" ALT="The Free Site!" BORDER="0"></A>
</p>

<!-- END 250Free Advertising  -->
