nbk2000
October 1st, 2001, 11:46 AM
Yes, pumice. Like the stuff your mum uses to polish the calluses off her hoof with.
I discovered this while trolling through MILNET, that pumice is being phased into weapons containers for storage and transportation because it greatly reduces the probabilty of sympathetic detonation among stockpiled weapons.
For instance, in this picture:
http://server3001.freeyellow.com/nbk2000/Pumice-C-4.gif
we see two 2.5 pound blocks of C-4 in a storage box filled with pumice/foam. One of the blocks was detonated. The box was blown apart, but the other C-4 brick didn't explode, just splattered.
Here's the side of the box:
http://server3001.freeyellow.com/nbk2000/Pumice-Box.jpg
As you can see it is intact. Without the pumice to absorb the shock. the box would have been blown into splinters.
The pumice used is 3/8" spheroids, bought commercially in bulk for $20/cubic yard. It's then bound into slabs with epoxy (as shown below) or mixed in with polyurethane foam (Great-Stuf insulation foam).
http://server3001.freeyellow.com/nbk2000/Pumice-Closeup.gif
When it's exposed to an explosive shock, it absorbs this energy by breaking down into small bits of dust. This slows down the explosive pulse, cools the gases, and prevents nearby explosives from also exploding, thus limiting the damage.
Pumice reduces up to 95% http://theforum.virtualave.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif of the explosives shock impulse. This shock is the cause of an explosions sound too. So, if you have a large container of pumice buried in the ground (cubic yard or more), I don't see why you couldn't explode small charges and detonators in it, even in urban places.
The key would be to have a sturdy means of retaining the pumice inside the container during the explosion. Otherwise the explosive force may lift the pumice out, rather than crushing it. This would be especially likey to happen with low explosives.
Expanded metal grating, or cyclone fencing with burlap covering would work.
This would also be a good way of storing your explosives outside the house. Nobody is going to go digging through a bin of pumice unless they already know, and if anything goes off, you'll probably still have a house left.
Now, how does this apply to you? Well think, do you have a bunch of AP detonators lying around? What if one goes off? Or you've got a small bomb you're wishing to transport somewhere to test, why not reduce the risk of injury if it goes off?
A box of pumice in the trunk with the charge secured inside would probably save your life if it exploded
------------------
I am OTAKU! Seeker and Gatherer of all knowledge. Know this and fear me.
Go here (http://members.nbci.com/angelo_444/dload.html) to download the NBK2000 website PDF.
Go here (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/nbk2k) to download the NBK2000 videos.
[This message has been edited by nbk2000 (edited October 02, 2001).]
I discovered this while trolling through MILNET, that pumice is being phased into weapons containers for storage and transportation because it greatly reduces the probabilty of sympathetic detonation among stockpiled weapons.
For instance, in this picture:
http://server3001.freeyellow.com/nbk2000/Pumice-C-4.gif
we see two 2.5 pound blocks of C-4 in a storage box filled with pumice/foam. One of the blocks was detonated. The box was blown apart, but the other C-4 brick didn't explode, just splattered.
Here's the side of the box:
http://server3001.freeyellow.com/nbk2000/Pumice-Box.jpg
As you can see it is intact. Without the pumice to absorb the shock. the box would have been blown into splinters.
The pumice used is 3/8" spheroids, bought commercially in bulk for $20/cubic yard. It's then bound into slabs with epoxy (as shown below) or mixed in with polyurethane foam (Great-Stuf insulation foam).
http://server3001.freeyellow.com/nbk2000/Pumice-Closeup.gif
When it's exposed to an explosive shock, it absorbs this energy by breaking down into small bits of dust. This slows down the explosive pulse, cools the gases, and prevents nearby explosives from also exploding, thus limiting the damage.
Pumice reduces up to 95% http://theforum.virtualave.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif of the explosives shock impulse. This shock is the cause of an explosions sound too. So, if you have a large container of pumice buried in the ground (cubic yard or more), I don't see why you couldn't explode small charges and detonators in it, even in urban places.
The key would be to have a sturdy means of retaining the pumice inside the container during the explosion. Otherwise the explosive force may lift the pumice out, rather than crushing it. This would be especially likey to happen with low explosives.
Expanded metal grating, or cyclone fencing with burlap covering would work.
This would also be a good way of storing your explosives outside the house. Nobody is going to go digging through a bin of pumice unless they already know, and if anything goes off, you'll probably still have a house left.
Now, how does this apply to you? Well think, do you have a bunch of AP detonators lying around? What if one goes off? Or you've got a small bomb you're wishing to transport somewhere to test, why not reduce the risk of injury if it goes off?
A box of pumice in the trunk with the charge secured inside would probably save your life if it exploded
------------------
I am OTAKU! Seeker and Gatherer of all knowledge. Know this and fear me.
Go here (http://members.nbci.com/angelo_444/dload.html) to download the NBK2000 website PDF.
Go here (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/nbk2k) to download the NBK2000 videos.
[This message has been edited by nbk2000 (edited October 02, 2001).]