Does ANFO need a detonator?
The main characteristics of ANFO are as follows: (1) ANFO is detonator-insensitive, so it must be initiated by a primer. (2) ANFO consists of distinct fuel and oxidizer phases and requires confinement for efficient detonation.
Can ammonium nitrate cause an explosion?
When such a large quantity of compacted ammonium nitrate is exposed to intense heat — if, say, an accidental fire breaks out — it can trigger an explosion. The shock wave following a such a blast can be deadly.
What PSI is lethal?
The magnitude of damage due to the blast wave depends on the peak of the initial positive-pressure wave (an overpressure of 414–552 kPa or 60–80 psi is considered potentially lethal), the duration of the overpressure, the medium of the explosion, the distance from the incident blast wave, and the degree of focusing due …
What is ANFO oxygen?
Top Quality ANFO Explosives in the Volumes You Need It is a dry, free flowing explosive; formulated to ensure the appropriate oxygen balance providing optimal energy and sensitivity. Although ANFO has zero water resistance, it has a wide variety of applications in dry hole blasting conditions.
Will ammonium nitrate explode without diesel fuel?
“Detonation of ammonium nitrate does not require additional fuel but is often set off by an initial fire which then causes the bulk material to blow. “The orange plume above the explosion site is due to nitrogen dioxide, the toxic air pollution gas, and is a tell-tale sign of a nitrate-based explosion.
How much PSI is in a nuke?
At 50 seconds after the explosion, when the fireball is no longer visible, the blast wave has traveled about 12 miles. It is then traveling at about 784 miles per hour, which is slightly faster than the speed of sound at sea level….Overpressure.
| Peak overpressure | Maximum Wind Speed |
|---|---|
| 10 psi | 294 mph |
| 5 psi | 163 mph |
| 2 psi | 70 mph |
How fast does ANFO explode?
The detonation velocity varies from 3,000 to 4,000 m/sec for the 1 to 10 pct range of fuel oil content, suggesting that ANFO mixes with improper fuel oil content may appear to detonate properly, while their fume production differs significantly from optimum.
Is ANFO ammonium nitrate?
The usual ANFO formulation contains about 94% by weight ammonium nitrate and 6% diesel fuel oil.
What is an ANFO car bomb?
The ANFO car bomb was adopted by the Provisional IRA in 1972 and, by 1973, the Troubles were consuming 21,000 kilograms (47,000 pounds) of ammonium nitrate for the majority of bombs. The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) also made use of ANFO bombs, often mixing in gelignite as a booster.
What is an ANFO?
The press and other media have used the term ANFO loosely and imprecisely in describing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), in cases of fertilizer bombs (see Malicious use below). The use of ANFO originated in the 1950s.
What is ANFO explosive made of?
ANFO ( / ˈænfoʊ / AN-foh) (or AN/FO, for ammonium nitrate/fuel oil) is a widely used bulk industrial explosive. It consists of 94% porous prilled ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3) (AN), which acts as the oxidizing agent and absorbent for the fuel, and 6% number 2 fuel oil (FO). The use of ANFO originated in the 1950s.
What is the history of ANFO detonation?
The use of ANFO originated in the 1950s. The chemistry of ANFO detonation is the reaction of ammonium nitrate with a long-chain alkane (CnH2n+2) to form nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water. In an ideal stoichiometrically balanced reaction, ANFO is composed of about 94.3% AN and 5.7% FO by weight.