Surplus powder?

[justMike]

I wonder what the source of this stuff is? My guess would be Navy guns, would like to know more.

http://news.yahoo.com/explosives-louisiana-prompt-town-evacuation-criminal-probe-175826470.html

[emsalex]

Wow. That is crazy. Comments are amazing as always.

[Burbur]

They can drop one of those pallets off on my driveway.

[xrMike]

I bet you that technically, that stuff is not really an explosive, meaning that it does not detonate (explode at supersonic speeds, like real explosives such as C4, TNT, dynamite, etc), but only deflagrates (burns like the Varget and Ramshot smokeless powders we use in reloading).

If that 6 million pounds caught fire it would burn up VERY quickly and create an amazing, spectacular fire, but I don't think it would explode.

[elsolo]

I bet you that technically, that stuff is not really an explosive, meaning that it does not detonate (explode at supersonic speeds, like real explosives such as C4, TNT, dynamite, etc), but only deflagrates (burns like the Varget and Ramshot smokeless powders we use in reloading).

If that 6 million pounds caught fire it would burn up VERY quickly and create an amazing, spectacular fire, but I don't think it would explode.

My thoughts exactly.
It would just be six million times more smokey than when I burn a coffee can of mixed pull-down powder.

[Nick Justice]

6 million pounds divided by 2000 = 3000 tons. Three kilotons.
I read some of the comments from all the explosives "experts". Fun times.

[emsalex]

6 million pounds divided by 2000 = 3000 tons. Three kilotons.
I read some of the comments from all the explosives "experts". Fun times.

you read the one about c4? you can hold a light to C4 and it won't explode so this stuff is just as safe.

If I lived miles and miles away from this stuff. and was forced to miss work and get a hotel room, and then found out why I would be mad. assuming that it is what we all think(know).

[justMike]

Just for amusement I did some looking on the web. Pretty chemistry technical, but this is what I found out on M6 propellant.

NSN DODIC NOMENCLATURE

1376-01-053-9362 PROPELLANT POWDER,M6, MP, TYPE 1 F/105MM CTG

1376-01-053-9370 PROPELLANT POWDER,M6,MP F/175MM M86 SERIES

1376-01-053-9372 PROPELLANT POWDER, M6,MP F/155MM M119 SERIES

1376-01-055-2783 PROPELLANT POWDER,M6+2, MP F/GUN 76MM

1376-01-064-7316 PROPELLANT POWDER,M6 PROP FORM C TYPE 1

1376-01-078-4062 PROPELLANT POWDER,M6, MP F/76MM M496 HEAT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROPELLANT COMPOSITIONS
(THE NUMBERS IN THESE CHARTS ARE APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGES BY WEIGHT
1
)
PROPELLANT
MODEL
COMPONENT NUMBER M6
Nitrocellulose 87.00
Nitroglycerin
Nitroguanidine
Dinitrotoluene 10.00
Dibutylphthalate 3.00
Diethylphthalate
Diphenylamine 1.00
Ethyl Centralite
Barium Nitrate
Potassium Nitrate
Potassium Perchlorate
Lead Carbonate
Potassium Sulfate 1.00
Tin
Carbon Black
Graphite
Cryolite

[xrMike]

Just for amusement I did some looking on the web. Pretty chemistry technical, but this is what I found out on M6 propellant.

PROPELLANT COMPOSITIONS

PROPELLANT
MODEL
COMPONENT NUMBER M6
Nitrocellulose 87.00
Nitroglycerin

So it IS a double-base powder (nitrocellulose + nitroglycerine are the main ingredients). Probably very similar to the powders we use for reloading except for (I'm guessing here) a slower burn rate which makes it suitable for lobbing big-*** shells.

Definitely not a true explosive like the article said, but it would still be really cool to see it catch fire...

[justMike]

Yeah, from 105MM to 175MM guns. Would like to play with some if it were easy to get.