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A detonator the size of a thumb, hiding three layers of "explosion codes"
A detonator the size of a thumb, hiding three layers of "explosion codes"
Release time：
2025-12-09
Despite the small size of detonators, their internal structure is as precise as a clock
Despite the small size of detonators, their internal structure is as precise as a clock. From ignition to detonation, there are three steps that progress layer by layer, each step optimized for a hundred years:
1. Ignition layer: the most sensitive "fuse"
The ignition charge at the top of the detonator is mainly composed of potassium chlorate and sulfur, which can be ignited with a small amount of energy. In the early days, detonators were used for ignition, but now they have been upgraded to electric ignition - when powered on, the tungsten wire heats up and ignites the propellant column, with a response time accurate to 0.001 seconds, which is also the origin of the name "electric detonator".
2. Explosive layer: power amplifier
The flame power of the ignition layer is insufficient, and it is necessary to increase the explosive charge. Usually, high-energy explosives such as Tai'an or Hesogen are used, which, when ignited by gunpowder, produce high-speed detonation waves with a speed of up to 8000 meters per second, equivalent to 23 times the speed of sound. This power is sufficient to trigger any industrial explosive.
3. Shell: directional blasting "command cabin"
The shell of the detonator is made of copper or aluminum, and different shapes correspond to different blasting requirements. For example, a spherical shell can allow the detonation wave to spread evenly, making it suitable for demolishing buildings; The tubular shell concentrates energy forward and is used for deep hole blasting in mines. The research team at Nanjing University of Science and Technology has also developed a "shaped charge detonator" that can concentrate explosive energy at a single point and penetrate a 10 centimeter thick steel plate.
Keywords：
detonator,aluminum
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