الصفحة 1
الصفحة 1
Detection of Liquid Explosives and Flammable Agents in Connection with Terrorism
The organization of an Advanced Research Workshop with the title “Detection and Disposal of Liquid Explosives and Flammable Agents in Connection with Terrorism” was motivated by international findings about activities in this field of application. This ARW followed a meeting about the “Detection of Disposal Improvised Explosives” (St. Petersburg, 2005). Both items show the logistic problems as one of the lessons, terrorists have to overcome. These problems are connected with the illegal supply and transport of explosives and fuels and as counter-measure the detection of these materials. The invention of liquid explosives goes back to the middle of the 19th century and was used for special purposes in the commercial field of application. Because of the high sensitivity of liquid explosives against mechanical shock, caused by adiabatic compression of air-bobbles producing “hot spots” as origin of initiation the commercial application was not very successful. Because of this high risk, liquid explosives are not used in military or commercial application with some exceptions. In the commercial field explosives as slurries or emulsions consisting of suitable salts (Ammoniumnitrate etc.) and water are used to a large extend because of their high insensitivity. In many cases these slurries or emulsions were unfit for terrorist actions, because of their low sensitivity, large critical diameter and using in confinement. In the military field liquid explosives are used in World War I and II as bomb-fillings.
Detection and Disposal of Improvised Explosives
It including: Methods of detection of Improvised Explosives (IE). Methods of detection of Improvised explosives devices (IED). Disposal and safe handling of ID and IED. The treatment of detection methods may be divided in the following groups: Overview about the different methods; Trace- and vapor detection; Electromagnetic methods; Neutron methods; Laser techniques. Because of different definitions of Improvised Explosives the parti- pants of the workshop agreed after some discussions with the following definition: An Improvised Explosive (IE) can be any chemical compound or mixture capable of an explosive reaction. They are normally easily prepared by a knowledgeable layman under simple conditions. Components of IE are typically inorganic salts containing molecular bound oxygen like nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates etc. or organic compounds with nitro-, nitami- or nitrate-groups or peroxides. Admixtures of military or commercial explosive materials are also used. From the chemical point of view IE can be divided into the following types: Salts containing chemical groups with oxygen (like nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates etc.) in mixtures with combustible substances like carbon-hydrogen compounds.
