Ammonal

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Ammonal" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Ammonal
The explosion of 18,400 kilograms (40,600 lb) of ammonal under Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt, 1 July 1916
Type	Explosive
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
Wars	World War I

Ammonal is an explosive made up of ammonium nitrate and aluminium powder. TNT is added to create T-ammonal which improves properties such as brisance. The mixture is often referred to as Tannerite, which is a brand of ammonal.

The ammonium nitrate functions as an oxidizer and the aluminium as fuel. The use of the relatively cheap ammonium nitrate and aluminium makes it a replacement for pure TNT.

The mixture is affected by humidity because ammonium nitrate is highly hygroscopic. Ammonal's ease of detonation depends on fuel and oxidizer ratios, 95:5 ammonium nitrate and aluminium being fairly sensitive, however not very oxygen balanced. Even copper metal traces are known to sensitize bulk amounts of ammonium nitrate and further increase danger of spontaneous detonation during a fire, most likely due to the formation of tetramines. More oxygen balanced mixtures are not easily detonated, requiring a fairly substantial shock, though it remains more sensitive than trinitrotoluene and C-4.

The detonation velocity of ammonal is approximately 4,400 metres per second or 14,000 feet per second.

History

From early 1916, the British Army employed ammonal for their mines during World War I, starting with the Hawthorn Ridge mine during the Battle of the Somme, and reaching a zenith in the mines in the Battle of Messines which were exploded on 7 June 1917 at the start of the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as the Battle of Passchendaele). Several of the mines in the Battle of Messines contained 30,000 lbs (over 13.6 tonnes) of ammonal, and others contained 20,000 lbs (over 9 tonnes). The joint explosion of the ammonal mines beneath the German lines at Messines created 19 large craters, killing 10,000 German soldiers in one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. Not all of the mines laid by the British Army at Messines were detonated, however. Two mines were not ignited in 1917 because they had been abandoned before the battle, and four were outside the area of the offensive. On 17 July 1955, a lightning strike set off one of these four latter mines. There were no human casualties, but one cow was killed. Another of the unused mines is believed to have been found in a location beneath a farmhouse,^[1] but no attempt has been made to remove it.

Ammonal used for military mining purposes was generally contained within metal cans or rubberised bags to prevent moisture ingress problems. The composition of ammonal used at Messines was 65% ammonium nitrate, 17% aluminium, 15% trinitrotoluene (TNT), and 3% charcoal.^[2] Ammonal remains in use as an industrial explosive. Typically, it is used for quarrying or mining purposes.

ETA, a Basque separatist organisation, used 250 kg of ammonal in a car bomb in its attack on the Zaragoza barracks on 11 December 1987 in Zaragoza, Spain.^[3]

Proportions

A T-ammonal mixture previously used in hand grenades and shells has the proportions (by mass):^[4]

ammonium nitrate 58.6%
aluminium powder 21%
charcoal 2.4%
TNT 18%

References

^ Tweedie, N. (12 January 2004). "Farmer who is sitting on a bomb". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
^ Brown, G. I. (1998). The Big Bang: A History of Explosives. Sutton Publishing. p. 163. ISBN 0-7509-1878-0.
^ García, Gema (11 December 2017). "32 años del atentado de la casa cuartel de Zaragoza" [32 years since the Zaragoza barracks bombing]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 February 2020.
^ Chamberlain, J. S. (1921). A Textbook of Organic Chemistry. Philadelphia: P. Blankiston's Son & Co. p. 534. OCLC 245530036. Retrieved 17 May 2010.

Read other articles:

The Washington Family

Andrew W. Mellon Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.The Washington Family by Edward Savage (1789–1796). The British Museum, London (2011)1798 stipple print of The Washington Family by Edward Savage The Washington Family by Edward Savage is a life-sized group portrait of the Washington family, including U.S. President George Washington, First Lady Martha Washington, two of her grandchildren and a black servant, most likely an enslaved man whose identity was not recorded.&#...

Hettstadt

Hettstadt. Hettstadt adalah kota yang terletak di distrik Würzburg di Bayern, Jerman. Kota Hettstadt memiliki luas sebesar 13.92 km². Hettstadt pada tahun 2006, memiliki penduduk sebanyak 3.770 jiwa. lbsKota dan kotamadya di Würzburg Altertheim Aub Bergtheim Bieberehren Bütthard Eibelstadt Eisenheim Eisingen Erlabrunn Estenfeld Frickenhausen am Main Gaukönigshofen Gelchsheim Gerbrunn Geroldshausen Giebelstadt Greußenheim Güntersleben Hausen bei Würzburg Helmstadt Hettstadt Höchb...

Nure-onna

Ilustrasi Nure Onna yang muncul di pantai dalam Gazu Hyakki Yako karya Toriyama Sekien (1712-1788) Nure Onna (bahasa Jepang Kanji: 濡女, Hiragana: ぬれおんな) atau nama lainnya Nure Yomejo,[1] adalah makhluk yokai dalam cerita rakyat Jepang yang berwujud makhluk ganas seperti naga dengan tubuh ular dan kepala wanita. Nure Onna memiliki kulit bersisik yang basah dan menghabiskan sebagian besar waktunya di dalam air seperti halnya namanya yang jika diterjemahkan menjadi wanita ba...

2024 European Wrestling Championships – Women's freestyle 62 kg

Wrestling competition 2024 EuropeanWrestling ChampionshipsFreestyleGreco-RomanWomen57 kg55 kg50 kg61 kg60 kg53 kg65 kg63 kg55 kg70 kg67 kg57 kg74 kg72 kg59 kg79 kg77 kg62 kg86 kg82 kg65 kg92 kg87 kg68 kg97 kg97 kg72 kg125 kg130 kg76 kgvte Main article: 2024 European Wrestling Championships The women's freestyle 62 kg is a competition featured at the 2024 European Wrestling Championships, and held in Bucharest, Romania on February 15 and 16.[1] Medalists Gold Grace Bullen...

Ōmachi, Saga

Ōmachi 大町町Kota kecil BenderaLambangLokasi Ōmachi di Prefektur SagaNegara JepangWilayahKyūshūPrefektur SagaDistrikKishimaLuas • Total11,5 km2 (44 sq mi)Populasi (Oktober 1, 2015) • Total6.777 • Kepadatan589,3/km2 (15,260/sq mi)Zona waktuUTC+09:00 (JST)Kode pos849-2101Simbol • PohonOsmanthus fragrans • BungaViola tricolorNomor telepon0952-82-3111Alamat5017 Ōmachi, Ōmachi-chō, K...

Long Shin Estate

Public housing estate in Au Tau, Hong Kong Long Shin EstateLong Shin EstateGeneral informationLocation11-12 Yau Shin Street, Au TauYuen LongNew Territories, Hong KongCoordinates22°26′32″N 114°02′42″E / 22.442106°N 114.045103°E / 22.442106; 114.045103StatusCompletedCategoryPublic rental housingNo. of blocks3[1]No. of units1,203[1]ConstructionConstructed2017; 7 years ago (2017)AuthorityHong Kong Housing Authority Long Shin Es...

Berlin

Capital and largest city of Germany This article is about the capital city of Germany. For other uses, see Berlin (disambiguation). Place in GermanyBerlinCapital city, state and municipalitySpree river, Museum Island and Berlin TV Tower in MitteVictory ColumnCharlottenburg PalaceRotes RathausBrandenburg GateReichstagBerlin CathedralPotsdam Square FlagCoat of armsNicknames: Grey City[1] Spreeathen, or Athens on the Spree River[2]Show BerlinShow EuropeCoordinates: 52°31′...

ÖFB-Cup 1994-1995

ÖFB-Cup 1994-1995 Competizione ÖFB-Cup Sport Calcio Edizione 61ª Organizzatore ÖFB Luogo Austria Risultati Vincitore Rapid Vienna Secondo Leoben Cronologia della competizione 1993-94 1995-96 Manuale La ÖFB-Cup 1994-1995 è stata la 61ª edizione della coppa nazionale di calcio austriaca. Indice 1 Ottavi di finale 2 Quarti di finale 3 Semifinale 4 Finale 5 Collegamenti esterni Ottavi di finale Squadra 1 Risultato Squadra 2 14 aprile 1995 Hartberg 0 - 0 (5-4 dtr) &...

Yubraj Nayaghare

Yubraj Nayaghareयुवराज नयाँघरेBorn (1969-10-05) 5 October 1969 (age 54)Ilam DistrictOccupationWriterNotable workEk Haatko TaaliAwardsMadan Puraskar Yubraj Nayaghare (Nepali: युवराज नयाँघरे) is writer, litterateur and winner of Madan Puraskar of Nepal.[1][2][3] Books Anaam Pahadma PhanPhani Ghamko Chumban (2012) Ek Haatko Taali (2009) - won the Madan Puraskar award Aunla Aunlama Australia Yakji Harabara Tanakkha S...

List of New York State Historic Markers in Ulster County, New York

This is an incomplete list of New York State Historic Markers in Ulster County, New York.[1] Listings County-Wide (147 Markers) # Marker heading Image Designator Location City or town Coordinates Marker text 1 CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION ESOPUS Historic marker sign for the church State Ed Dept, 1935 US 9W AT WEST PARK Esopus 41°48′17.59″N 73°57′32.87″W / 41.8048861°N 73.9591306°W / 41.8048861; -73.9591306 CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION ESOPUS BUILT 1842 2 JOH...

俄亥俄州

「俄亥俄」重定向至此。关于其他用法，请见「俄亥俄 (消歧义)」。俄亥俄州美國联邦州State of Ohio 州旗州徽綽號：七葉果之州地图中高亮部分为俄亥俄州坐标：38°27'N－41°58'N, 80°32'W－84°49'W国家美國加入聯邦1803年3月1日，在1953年8月7日追溯頒定（第17个加入联邦）首府哥倫布（及最大城市）政府 • 州长（英语：List of Governors of {{{Name}}}]]） •&...

Central Time Zone

Time zone in North America This article is about the time zone in North America. For other time zones, see Central Time. Central Time ZoneTime zone Central Time ZoneUTC offsetCSTUTC−06:00CDTUTC−05:00Current time20:38, 4 June 2024 CST [refresh]21:38, 4 June 2024 CDT [refresh]Observance of DSTDST is observed in some of this time zone.The North American Central Time Zone (CT)[1] is a time zone in parts of Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America and some Caribbea...

Claude Antoine de Valdec de Lessart

French politician (1741–1792) Lessart Antoine Claude Nicolas Valdec de Lessart (25 January 1741, Château de Mongenan, Portets, near Bordeaux – 9 September 1792, Versailles ) was a French politician. He was the illegitimate son of the Baron de Gasq, Président of the Parlement de Guyenne. Life Before 1790 A director of the Compagnie des Indes, he became Maître des requêtes in 1767 then in October 1788 one of the three commissaries charged with discussing and examining everything on the ...

Cannabielsoin

Cannabielsoin Names IUPAC name (5aS,6S,9R,9aR)-6-methyl-3-pentyl-9-prop-1-en-2-yl-7,8,9,9a-tetrahydro-5aH-dibenzofuran-1,6-diol Other names Cannabielsoin ACBECannabielsoin I[1] Identifiers CAS Number 52025-76-0 Y 3D model (JSmol) Interactive image Abbreviations CBE ChemSpider 142372 KEGG C20218 PubChem CID 162113 UNII 2ERD6V6652 Y CompTox Dashboard (EPA) DTXSID50966364 InChI InChI=1S/C21H30O3/c1-5-6-7-8-14-11-16(22)19-17(12-14)24-20-18(19)15(13(2)3)9-10-21(20,4)23/h11-12,15...

Ombrone (department)

Department of OmbroneDépartement de l'Ombrone (French)Department of the First French Empire1808–1814 FlagAdministrative map of the Italian portion of the French Empire.CapitalSienaArea • Coordinates43°20′N 11°20′E / 43.333°N 11.333°E / 43.333; 11.333 • 1812[1]7,748.97 km2 (2,991.89 sq mi)Population • 1812[1] 189,307 History • Annexion from the Kingdom of Etruria 25 May 1808�...

Smells Like Teen Spirit

1991 single by Nirvana For the Vampire Diaries episode, see Smells Like Teen Spirit (The Vampire Diaries). Not to be confused with Smells Like Green Spirit. Smells Like Teen Spirit7-inch vinyl UK standard editionSingle by Nirvanafrom the album Nevermind B-side Drain You (UK only) Even in His Youth Aneurysm ReleasedSeptember 10, 1991 (1991-09-10)RecordedMay 1991StudioSound City (Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California)Genre Grunge alternative rock Length 5:01 (album version) 4:38 (sin...

ガリツィア・ロドメリア王国

この記事は検証可能な参考文献や出典が全く示されていないか、不十分です。出典を追加して記事の信頼性向上にご協力ください。（このテンプレートの使い方）出典検索?: ガリツィア・ロドメリア王国 – ニュース · 書籍 · スカラー · CiNii · J-STAGE · NDL · dlib.jp · ジャパンサーチ · TWL (2011年8月) ガリツィア・ロドメリア王国 ...

List of timelines

For other uses of Timeline, see Timeline (disambiguation). This is a list of timelines currently on Wikipedia. Overview See also the categories Historical timelines, Graphical timelines, Timelines by year, Lists of years by topic, Tables of years, and History There are several types of timeline articles. Historical timelines show the significant historical events and developments for a specific topic, over the course of centuries or millennia. Graphical timelines provide a visual representat...

Mogollon

Questa voce o sezione sull'argomento Stati Uniti d'America non cita le fonti necessarie o quelle presenti sono insufficienti. Puoi migliorare questa voce aggiungendo citazioni da fonti attendibili secondo le linee guida sull'uso delle fonti. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Estensione della cultura mogollon. I Mogollon furono un'antica popolazione americana diffusa dal 300 a.C. al 1300 d.C. Devono il loro nome ai Monti Mogollón, così chiamati in onore di Juan Ignacio ...

News zero

お願い：スポンサー・裏番組の「詳細な記述」（スポンサー・裏番組のみの項目立てや単なる列挙など）は絶対しないで下さい。加筆した場合は差し戻され、それでも再発される場合は全保護または半保護する場合があります。（PJ放送番組での合意に基づく）テレビ番組・中継内での各種情報（終了した番組・中継を含みます）は、DVDやBlu-rayなどでの販売や公式なネ...