Comments on: Explosion: Grad student looses both hands, face burned http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2008/02/15/explosion-grad-student-looses-both-hands-face-burned/ A Chat and Waffles Chemistry Blog Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:28:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: hmx9123 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2008/02/15/explosion-grad-student-looses-both-hands-face-burned/#comment-335 hmx9123 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:50:04 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2008/02/15/explosion-grad-student-looses-both-hands-face-burned/#comment-335 Nano explosives are the rage, but the problem is that there is a very real limit to the size of an explosive before it becomes non-functional (critical mass). A shockwave must propagate through a certain amount of material (i.e., there is a 'run time') for it to fully form, and without this, it doesn't go bang. Now, on the nanoscale, this won't fly, so they have to go for materials that do detonate on the nanoscale, and you are unfortunately left with primary HEs. Those are dangerous monsters, and some are even point detonants. One material I saw was a true point detonant; 8 mcg completely destroyed a DSC pan and analyzer (or whatever that name of the thing the pan sits in). Had to buy a new part for the instrument. Suck. Point being (heh, no pun intended), if he was doing nano explosives, he may have been working with VERY sensitive and powerful material. Not a good combination. Nano explosives are the rage, but the problem is that there is a very real limit to the size of an explosive before it becomes non-functional (critical mass). A shockwave must propagate through a certain amount of material (i.e., there is a ‘run time’) for it to fully form, and without this, it doesn’t go bang. Now, on the nanoscale, this won’t fly, so they have to go for materials that do detonate on the nanoscale, and you are unfortunately left with primary HEs. Those are dangerous monsters, and some are even point detonants. One material I saw was a true point detonant; 8 mcg completely destroyed a DSC pan and analyzer (or whatever that name of the thing the pan sits in). Had to buy a new part for the instrument. Suck.

Point being (heh, no pun intended), if he was doing nano explosives, he may have been working with VERY sensitive and powerful material. Not a good combination.

]]> By: CobaltLS http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2008/02/15/explosion-grad-student-looses-both-hands-face-burned/#comment-275 CobaltLS Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:06:19 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2008/02/15/explosion-grad-student-looses-both-hands-face-burned/#comment-275 That is really sad...and leaves you kind of speechless. Assuming this man recovers, I hope they arrange a way for him to finish his degree. That is really sad…and leaves you kind of speechless. Assuming this man recovers, I hope they arrange a way for him to finish his degree.

]]> By: mitch http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2008/02/15/explosion-grad-student-looses-both-hands-face-burned/#comment-258 mitch Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:40:27 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2008/02/15/explosion-grad-student-looses-both-hands-face-burned/#comment-258 Edited, it looks like your translator is better than my translator. Edited, it looks like your translator is better than my translator.

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2008/02/15/explosion-grad-student-looses-both-hands-face-burned/#comment-257 David Bradley Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:34:56 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2008/02/15/explosion-grad-student-looses-both-hands-face-burned/#comment-257 I did a quick Poltran on the original article, it says nothing more about the materials in question, but there is a reference to his not losing consciousness. There's nothing on the Academy's website yet. I will try and get hold of a press officer and investigate further. db I did a quick Poltran on the original article, it says nothing more about the materials in question, but there is a reference to his not losing consciousness. There’s nothing on the Academy’s website yet. I will try and get hold of a press officer and investigate further.

db

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