Tannerite
Encyclopedia
Tannerite is the trademark for a patented ammonium nitrate/ aluminum powder based binary explosive
used primarily as a target for firearms practice. Tannerite is unique in that it is exceptionally stable when subjected to less severe forces such as a hammer blow or being dropped. It is supplied as two powders which are combined to produce the explosive.
. Small caliber rimfire or slow moving pistol
ammunition
will not initiate a detonation.
Tannerite is used by shooting clubs to provide explosions for their participants in large-scale weaponry demonstrations or other events. Ordinarily, firing high powered machine guns and other rifles will not produce much more than sound upon impact of the round on the target. With reactive targets, these shooting clubs can provide a movie
-like experience such as exploding cars.
The manufacturer recommends using no more than 0.5 pound (0.226796185 kg) of the mixed composition at once, for safety reasons.
Tannerite detonations occur at a very high velocity, producing a large explosion and cloud. It may be useful for persons who are firing at long ranges; in this scenario, a long-range rifle shooter emplaces targets, retreats to his firing position, and fires. The shooter does not wish to have to walk down range to see if he has a hit—the Tannerite will detonate
and serve as an indicator.
It also has uses as a general explosive that, prior to mixing, can be sold, transported, and stored in the United States without any special permits.
, avalanche
control and police
use, as well as by the pound.
Tannerite consists of two components, a catalyst or sensitizer and a bulk material or oxidizer. The oxidizer is a mixture of 85% 200-mesh ammonium nitrate and 0- 15% ammonium perchlorate
, while the catalyst is a mixture of 90% 600-mesh dark flake aluminium
powder, 5% 325-mesh Titanium
sponge and 5% 200-mesh zirconium hydroxide. Simpler mixtures of ammonium nitrate and aluminium powder often named as Ammonal
are also known to work.
In the United States, ATF regulations allow the two components to be legally purchased, since neither one is an explosive by itself. However, the mixture is an explosive once mixed, and cannot be transported without following strict regulations including insurance, packaging, and signage on the vehicle. Various regulations also govern the storage of mixed Tannerite.
With the pre-sized quantities, the company provides non-sparking polyethylene mixing bottles.
As oxidizers and combustibles, the unmixed components still have shipping restrictions. The company's website does not disclose their international shipping policy.
rifle from 300 yards (274.3 m) away on January 14, 2008 in Red Wing, Minnesota
. The man was on probation when he mixed and shot the Tannerite and was not allowed to possess firearms or explosives. The blast could be felt at Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant
.
Binary explosive
A binary explosive or two-component explosive is an explosive consisting of two components, neither of which is explosive by itself, which have to be mixed in order to become explosive...
used primarily as a target for firearms practice. Tannerite is unique in that it is exceptionally stable when subjected to less severe forces such as a hammer blow or being dropped. It is supplied as two powders which are combined to produce the explosive.
Uses
Tannerite is intended to detonate when shot by a high-powered rifleRifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
. Small caliber rimfire or slow moving pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
will not initiate a detonation.
Tannerite is used by shooting clubs to provide explosions for their participants in large-scale weaponry demonstrations or other events. Ordinarily, firing high powered machine guns and other rifles will not produce much more than sound upon impact of the round on the target. With reactive targets, these shooting clubs can provide a movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
-like experience such as exploding cars.
The manufacturer recommends using no more than 0.5 pound (0.226796185 kg) of the mixed composition at once, for safety reasons.
Tannerite detonations occur at a very high velocity, producing a large explosion and cloud. It may be useful for persons who are firing at long ranges; in this scenario, a long-range rifle shooter emplaces targets, retreats to his firing position, and fires. The shooter does not wish to have to walk down range to see if he has a hit—the Tannerite will detonate
Detonation
Detonation involves a supersonic exothermic front accelerating through a medium that eventually drives a shock front propagating directly in front of it. Detonations are observed in both conventional solid and liquid explosives, as well as in reactive gases...
and serve as an indicator.
It also has uses as a general explosive that, prior to mixing, can be sold, transported, and stored in the United States without any special permits.
Manufacture and sale
Tannerite is sold in pre-sized quantities for target practiceTarget practice
Target practice refers to any exercise in which projectiles are fired at a specified target, usually to improve the aim of the person or persons firing the weapon....
, avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
control and police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
use, as well as by the pound.
Tannerite consists of two components, a catalyst or sensitizer and a bulk material or oxidizer. The oxidizer is a mixture of 85% 200-mesh ammonium nitrate and 0- 15% ammonium perchlorate
Ammonium perchlorate
Ammonium perchlorate is an inorganic compound with the formula NH4ClO4. It is the salt of perchloric acid and ammonia. It is a powerful oxidizer, which is why its main use is in solid propellants...
, while the catalyst is a mixture of 90% 600-mesh dark flake aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
powder, 5% 325-mesh Titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
sponge and 5% 200-mesh zirconium hydroxide. Simpler mixtures of ammonium nitrate and aluminium powder often named as Ammonal
Ammonal
Ammonal is an explosive made up of ammonium nitrate, trinitrotoluene , and aluminium powder.The ammonium nitrate functions as an oxidizer and aluminium as a power enhancer. To some extent the aluminium makes it more sensitive to detonation...
are also known to work.
In the United States, ATF regulations allow the two components to be legally purchased, since neither one is an explosive by itself. However, the mixture is an explosive once mixed, and cannot be transported without following strict regulations including insurance, packaging, and signage on the vehicle. Various regulations also govern the storage of mixed Tannerite.
With the pre-sized quantities, the company provides non-sparking polyethylene mixing bottles.
As oxidizers and combustibles, the unmixed components still have shipping restrictions. The company's website does not disclose their international shipping policy.
In the news
A Minnesotan man was fined $2,583 and sentenced to three years' probation on charges of detonating an explosive device and unlawful possession of components for explosives after he detonated 100 lb (45.4 kg) of Tannerite inside the bed of a dump truck by shooting it with a .50 caliber.50 BMG
The .50 Browning Machine Gun or 12.7×99mm NATO is a cartridge developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s. Entering service officially in 1921, the round is based on a greatly scaled-up .30-06 cartridge...
rifle from 300 yards (274.3 m) away on January 14, 2008 in Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing is a city in Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mississippi River. The population was 16,459 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Goodhue County....
. The man was on probation when he mixed and shot the Tannerite and was not allowed to possess firearms or explosives. The blast could be felt at Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant
Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant
The Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant is an electricity-generating facility located in Red Wing, Minnesota along the Mississippi River, adjacent to the Prairie Island Indian Community reservation. The nuclear power plant, which first began operating in 1973, has two nuclear reactors made by...
.