Laboratory Analysis of Explosives

did he say anything important before he started the lecture slides

methods for explosives analysis - anything important here?

did he say anything important before he started the lecture slides

methods for explosives analysis - anything important here?

typical protocols for intact low explosives - anything important here

visual/microscopie exam - ok im locking in now i swear

Ignition test - he said smth here

• Sight:

  • Flame color.

  • Sparks.

  • Smoke → amount, color.

• Sound:

  • None.

  • Hiss? Pop?

• Smell:

  • None.

  • Sulfur.

• Residue:

  • None.

  • Amount? Color?

instrumental techniques - he said something important here too

he also yapped a lot here

SEM-EDS

• Conclusive identification of:

  • Elements present in a sample.

    • Organic versus inorganic material.

    • Characteristic post-blast residues.

  • Microstructures:

    • Micro-balloons.

    • Charcoal.

    • Sawdust.

• Non-destructive.

• Picture: bad for detecting nitrogen (especially oxidize nitrogen).

FTIR - he said something here

• Conclusive identification of:

  • Most organic explosives (smokeless powder).

    • Closely related organic explosives may be indistinguishable.

    • Can differentiate between double-base and single base.

      • Double-base has nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose.

      • SIngle-base only has nitrocellulose.

  • Some inorganic explosives.

    • AN.

    • Pyrodex/777 (intact).

• Non-destructive.

Chromatography

• Picture:

  • LC has to be used for inorganic species.

    • IC can also be used here.

  • Many compounds can be analyzed either way.

GC/TEA

• Detects nitro and nitroso compounds.

  • Via chemiluminescence.

• Sensitive.

• Selective.

• Not specific.

GC/MS

• Finnigan Trace DSQ.

• Column.

  • Rtx-5, 0.25 um.

  • 15m x 0.25 mm I.D.

• PTV injector