Trauzl lead block test
Encyclopedia
The Trauzl lead block test, also called the Trauzl test or just Trauzl, is a test used to measure the strength of explosive material
s. It was developed by Isidor Trauzl in 1885.
The test is performed by loading a 10-gram foil-wrapped sample of the explosive into a hole drilled into a lead
block with specific dimensions. The hole is then topped up with sand, and the sample is detonated electrically. After detonation, the volume increase of the cavity is measured. The result, given in cm3, is called the Trauzl number of the explosive.
The Trauzl test is not useful for some modern higher-powered explosives as their power often cracks or otherwise ruptures the lead block, rendering it incapable of containing the volume-measuring medium.
A variant of the test uses an aluminium
block.
Explosive material
An explosive material, also called an explosive, is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure...
s. It was developed by Isidor Trauzl in 1885.
The test is performed by loading a 10-gram foil-wrapped sample of the explosive into a hole drilled into a lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
block with specific dimensions. The hole is then topped up with sand, and the sample is detonated electrically. After detonation, the volume increase of the cavity is measured. The result, given in cm3, is called the Trauzl number of the explosive.
The Trauzl test is not useful for some modern higher-powered explosives as their power often cracks or otherwise ruptures the lead block, rendering it incapable of containing the volume-measuring medium.
A variant of the test uses an 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....
block.
Examples
Explosive power of chemical explosives by Trauzl number:| Explosive | Trauzl rating (cm³/g) |
|---|---|
| Acetone peroxide Acetone peroxide Acetone peroxide is an organic peroxide and a primary high explosive. It takes the form of a white crystalline powder with a distinctive bleach-like odor.... |
25-33 |
| RDX (C4/Hexogen) RDX RDX, an initialism for Research Department Explosive, is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. It was developed as an explosive which was more powerful than TNT, and it saw wide use in WWII. RDX is also known as cyclonite, hexogen , and T4... |
45 |
| HMTD Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine is ahigh explosive organic compound, first synthesised in 1885 by Legler. The theorised structure lent itself well to acting as an initiating, or primary explosive... |
33 |
| HMX (octogen) HMX HMX, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive nitroamine high explosive, chemically related to RDX. Like RDX, the name has been variously listed as High Melting eXplosive, Her Majesty's eXplosive, High-velocity Military eXplosive, or High-Molecular-weight rdX.The molecular... |
48 |
| Nitroglycerin | 52 |
| Pentaerythritol tetranitrate | 52 |
| Trinitrotoluene (TNT) | 30 |