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reportExplosives Detection
9.5.2 Definition

Detection of explosives in cargo, luggage, mail, vehicles, aircrafts and on personnel presents a significant challenge for civilian security. Three main means of detection are in deployment or in advanced stages of development. The first method relies on detecting traces quantities of volatile compounds of explosives, in vapour form or deposits on surfaces. The second method used is penetrating radiation that interacts with an explosive element producing a characteristic signal on the detector. The third method used combines one or more methods as platforms for detection. In this approach one detection technique compensates for the weakness of another [91].

 

More than a 100 explosive categories have been identified in the literature. Table EW.1 provides a list of explosives that are commonly used. The explosive characteristics used to identify the explosive are geometry, material density, elemental composition and vapour detection. The properties used for identifying explosives and drugs have been mentioned in the literature. For explosives the constituents in general has moderate carbon, high to moderate nitrogen, very high to high oxygen and very high density [92].

 

Table EW.1 - List of common used explosives and their chemical formula [91]

 

 

Explosive

Name/contents

Standard

TNT

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene

 

RDX

1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane

 

PETN

Pentaerythritol tetra nitrate

 

NG

Nitroglycerin (glycerol trinitrate)

 

EGDN

Ethylene glycol dinitrate

Improvised

ANFO

Ammonium nitrate + fuel oil

 

Urea nitrate

Urea nitrate

 

TATP

Triacetone triperoxide

Plastic

C-4

C-4 RDX + plasticizer

 

Semtex

Semtex RDX + PETN + plasticizer

 

Detasheet

Detasheet PETN + plasticizer

 

 

 

 

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