C-4 (explosive)

C-4 or Composition C-4 is a common variety of military plastic explosive.

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C-4 is made up of explosive, plastic binder, plasticizer and, nowadays, marker or taggant chemicals such as 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMDNB) to help detect the explosive and identify its source. As with many plastic explosives, the explosive material in C-4 is RDX (also known as cyclonite or cyclotrimethylene trinitramine) which makes up around 91% of the C-4 by weight. The plasticizer is di(2-ethylhexyl) or dioctyl sebacate (5.3%), and the binder is polyisobutylene (2.1%). Another binder used is dioctyl adipate (DOA). A small amount of petroleum oil (1.6%) is also added.

Related Topics:
Explosive - Plastic binder - Plasticizer - Taggant - DMDNB - Explosive material - RDX - Dioctyl sebacate - Polyisobutylene - Dioctyl adipate - Petroleum oil

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C-4 is made by combining RDX slurry with binder dissolved in a solvent. The solvent is then distilled away and the mixture is dried and filtered. The final material is an off-white solid with the feel of soft clay.

Related Topics:
RDX - Slurry

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The explosive is a 1960s improvement on a World War II material which contained RDX, mineral oil, and lecithin and resembled plastic explosive. C-4 is part of a group of explosives along with C, C2 and C3, each containing different amounts of RDX.

Related Topics:
1960s - World War II - Mineral oil - Lecithin - C2 - C3

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The C is sometimes said to stand for composition and the name is an abbreviation of Composition 4. However, the term composition is used for any stable explosive, and "Composition A" and "Composition B" are other known variants. Therefore, C-4 is correctly referred to as Composition C-4.

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C-4 is widely renowned for being malleable. It can be molded into gaps in buildings and under bridges, or into any desired shape. C-4 is also well known for its durability and reliability. It will not explode even if shot, punched, cut, or thrown into a fire. The only method for detonation is a detonator or blasting cap.

Related Topics:
Malleable - Detonator - Blasting cap

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Contrary to what Hollywood would have you believe, the explosion created by C-4 expands at well over 1,000 meters per second, meaning that it is physically impossible for man or animal to outrun the blast.

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