There is always ongoing research into the improvement of existing explosives and the development of new materials and options. While not a new product, there has been increasing interest in PETN explosive, largely because of its amazing power in a very small compact size.
In its processed form pure PETN is a colorless crystal powder that is more resistant to long periods of storage than nitroglycerin, although it is in the same family. It can also be mixed with water or alcohol for longer storage life.
PETN stands for Pentaerythritol tetranitrate. It was first discovered and patented in Germany in 1894 by an explosives company in Cologne. However, it wasn’t actually produced until the German Government showed interest in 1912. In 1914, at the start of WW1, production was largely for the German military. It continued to be used by the German military through the Second World War.
Detonation
The modern forms of PETN explosive are considered to have a very high brisance. This means that it has a high detonation pressure and results in high shattering ability, essential in mining and other specific types of uses.
It is particularly valuable in fragmentation blasts, which are designed to break up underlying layers of rock without the large upward explosion to move the top layer. The high detonation velocity and pressure creates shock waves which shatter the rock and provides controlled movement of the area it passes through.
With its composition, PETN can actually be difficult to detonate under most conditions. It is a secondary explosive in most applications and can withstand dropping and igniting to some degree. It is more sensitive to these types of shocks or to friction than TNT, which is important to note. With its sensitivity to shock PETN can be used in some blasting caps and detonators as a primary explosive.
One of the interesting features of PETN explosive is that it can be used with a laser to cause a detonation. It is commonly mixed with other types of explosives to create more stable and versatile explosive in a wide number of applications, including in solid rocket propellant.
In addition to explosives, PETN is also used on Primacord, a detonating fuse widely used around the world. It is used in warheads as well as in grenades. It is also used in medical treatment for patients with specific types of heart conditions. This is not unlike nitroglycerin, whichh is also used in the medical treatment of specific heart conditions.