COMMON NAME – Semtex 10
TYPE – High explosive mixture
DATE FIRST USED AS AN EXPLOSIVE – 1987
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Czechoslovakia
COMPOSITION – 85% PETN, 15% Rubber and non-energetic plasticizer, Carbon black
MOLECULAR FORMULA – C8H12N4O12
MOLECULAR WEIGHT – 363
DENSITY – 1.47 g per ml
NORMAL STATE – Malleable solid
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE/COLOR – Black (post-1991)
INITIATION – No. 8 Blasting cap consisting of 2.0 g of 80% Mercury fulminate and 20% Potassium Chlorate or equivalent
SENSITIVITY – Insensitive to heat, shock, or friction
STABILITY – Stable, minimum 20 year shelf life when properly stored at between -10 to 40o C. (14 to 104o F.)
DETONATION VELOCITY – 7,300 m/s (23,950 fps)
RE FACTOR (BRISANCE) [TNT=1.0] – 1.33
TOXICITY – Toxic if ingested or inhaled, can cause a slow heartbeat and lower blood pressure
IGNITION POINT – 150o C. (302o F.) Flashes
SOLUBILITY – Insoluble in water
APPLICATIONS – PRINCIPLE USES – Flexible, malleable plastic explosive for demolition, underwater blasting
This Semtex formulation has its explosive power based completely on PETN as its active component. The explosive is easily shaped by hand and retains its plastic consistency through a fairly wide range of temperatures, as do all of the Semtex mixtures. This explosive also has very good adhesive properties that allow it to be easily formed and stuck to a target. To identify the Semtex 10 formulation, Carbon black has been added to the mix giving the explosive a very distinctive black color.
