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COMMON NAME – Semtex 1A

TYPE – High explosive mixture

DATE FIRST USED AS AN EXPLOSIVE – 1964

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Czechoslovakia

COMPOSITION – Explosive base (83% of final product) – 94.3% PETN, 5.7% RDX, Plasticizer base (17% of final product) – Styrene-butadiene rubber (Binder), n-octyl Phthalate Butyl Citrate (Plasticizer), N-phenyl-2-naphthalamine (Antioxidant) Sudan IV (Dye)

DENSITY – 1.42 g per ml

NORMAL STATE – Malleable solid

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE/COLOR – Red (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 40^o C. (14 to 104^o F.). Present formulations list a shelf life of no longer than 2 years.

DETONATION VELOCITY – 7,200 m/s (23,622 fps)

RE FACTOR (BRISANCE) [TNT=1.0] – 1.28

TOXICITY – Toxic if ingested or inhaled, can cause a slow heartbeat and lower blood pressure

IGNITION POINT – 150^o C.(302^o F.) Flashes

SOLUBILITY – Insoluble in water

APPLICATIONS – PRINCIPLE USES – Flexible, malleable plastic explosive for demolition, underwater blasting

     Semtex is a trade name for a series of plastic explosives produced by the Czechoslovakian company Explosia, now the Explosia Division of the Synthesia Corporation in Parabuice, Semtín, the Czech Republic. Originally, the designation of this explosive was “B1” which was later changed to Semtex. This specific mixture of Semtex, Semtex 1A, has been in production under that designation since 1964. Differing formulations of Semtex have a letter, number, or combination of the two, added after the trade name. The name Semtex has been reported to come from the combination of the name of the town where it was developed SEMTín (Czechoslovakia) and EXplosive. It has been known under a variety of names, each being for a different formulation. The basic formulation of Semtex was developed in the late 1950s by Stanislav Brebera and Radim Fukátko, chemists at VCHZ Synthesia, Czechoslovakia. Formulations today have also had colored materials added to them to visually demonstrate the different types. Presently, Semtex 1A is brick red in color from the addition of the dye Sudan IV. Original formulations of Semtex were difficult to detect by normal security screening means. To account for this, and to adhere to international agreements since 1991, minor additions to the mixture of all Semtex formulations have made the explosives easily detectable. The Semtex 1A formulation is intended for general demolition work and is particularly suitable to underwater work down to a depth of 100 meters (328 feet). The explosive power of Semtex 1A is the same as that of most PETN-based explosives. The explosive developed an international reputation for extreme power when it was used by terrorists in a successful aircraft bombing. On 21 December 1988, 340 g (12 ounces) of Semtex brought down a Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland killing all 259 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft and 11 bystanders on the ground. Because of the relatively small amount of explosive used, and the terrible results that followed, the Media reported Semtex to be a massively powerful explosive. This was an easier statement for the public to accept rather than the relative fragility of a modern commercial aircraft to an explosive attack.

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