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Ammonium perchlorate

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Ammonium perchlorate, NH4NO3, is a strong oxidizing agent, a constituent of explosives and solid rocket propellants, and itself an explosive.

Explosive characteristics

It is unusual in that its best explosive performance is at high, not low, porosity.[1]

Safety

In one memorable blast at an ammonium perchlorate factory in 1988, 2 people were killed and 372 injured in Henderson, Nevada when approximately 4000 tons detonated. The intensity was compounded by a high-pressure natural gas line running under the poorly chosen factory site.[2]

Rocket engines

The Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters use a mixture of aluminum perchlorate, aluminum powder and an iron oxide catalyst in a rubberized binder.

References

  1. ↑ Donna Price, A. R. Clairmont, Jr., and I. Jaffe, Explosive Behavior of Ammonium Perchlorate, U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory, White Oak, Maryland, U.S. Navy
  2. ↑ J. Gordon Routley, Fire and Explosions at Rocket Fuel Plant Henderson, Nevada, U.S. Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency
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