than Astrolite G, the addition of the Aluminium increases its overall explosive effectiveness. The Astrolite family is remarkably persistent for a liquid explosive due to its low volatility and can be dispersed in an area, be absorbed by the soil, and still retain its full explosive characteristics for a period of approximately four days.


EGDN


EGDN also known as Nitroglycol, is a yellowish, oily liquid explosive with a density of 1.49 gr/cm³, obtained by nitrating Ethylene Glycol (adding highly concentrated Nitric Acid to Ethylene glycol). It is similar to Nitroglycerin (NG) in both manufacture and properties, though it is much more volatile and less viscous compared to NG. Similar to NG, it was invented in the late 19th century and was used in manufacturing explosives to lower the freezing point of NG, in order to produce dynamite for use in colder weather.


Hydrogen Peroxide and Hydrogen Peroxide Mixtures There are various peroxide mixtures and solutions which are very popular among terrorists given the relative ease of preparation. Due to this popularity, some of the precursor materials required for manufacturing these home-made explosives are now screened for among other liquid explosives.


One such material is Hexamethylene


Triperoxide Diamine or HMTD which is a powerful explosive discovered in 1885. While still quite sensitive to shock and friction, it was relatively stable compared to NG, and proved to be relatively inexpensive and easy to synthesise. As such, it was quickly taken up as a primary explosive in mining and military applications. HMTD is prepared by the reaction of a solution of Hydrogen Peroxide and Hexamine in the presence of Citric acid or Diluted Sulfuric acid as a catalyst, which then produces a white crystalline powder. Like other organic peroxides, HMTD is an unstable compound that is sensitive to shock, friction, and heat making the substance dangerous to manufacture. It also reacts with most common metals, which can lead to detonation. One of the best known terrorist attacks using HMTD, albeit that it was never realised, was that of Ahmed Ressam, the al-Qaeda Millennium


April 2012 Aviationsecurityinternational


Bomber, who used HMTD as one of the components in the device he prepared to bomb Los Angeles International Airport with on New Year's Eve 1999.


“…Ahmed Ressam, the al-Qaeda Millennium Bomber, used HMTD as one of the components in the device he prepared to bomb Los Angeles International Airport…”


Despite no longer being used in any commercial or military application, and despite its shock-sensitivity, HMTD remains a common home-made liquid explosive and has been used in a large number of suicide bombings throughout the world. HMTD was very likely used in the 7th July 2005 London bombings, as well as the trans-Atlantic liquid explosives plot in 2006. Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide (MEKP) is another popular organic peroxide which is a colourless, oily liquid and is slightly less sensitive to shock and temperature, and more stable in storage than HMTD. MEKP and acetone peroxide were also among the explosives intended to be used in the trans-Atlantic plot.


from the detonation of pure hydrogen peroxide. Examples of mixtures can be found in a variety of patents, in which hydrogen peroxide is mixed with flour, sawdust, water, glycerin, ammonium nitrate and more. The most commonly known hydrogen peroxide explosive used by terrorists, is Acetone Peroxide (Triacetone Triperoxide or TATP), which is an organic peroxide and a primary high explosive. It takes the form of a white crystalline powder with a distinctive bleach-like odour and is very susceptible to heat, friction, and shock, however it is more stable and less sensitive when wet.


TATP Crystals Methyl Nitrate


HMTD found at the apartment of the 2006 trans- Atlantic plotters


Hydrogen peroxide is another very commonly used type of explosive. In its pure form it is not used as an explosive, however under certain conditions of confinement, it may detonate. It is only suitable for such purposes in concentrations that are significantly higher than those serving commercial and medicinal purposes. Using hydrogen peroxide in


mixtures, to act as an oxidant, with various organic materials, has led to the development of different types of explosives and propellants with a higher energy content than that resulting


Methyl nitrate or MN is produced on a laboratory or industrial scale either through the distillation of a mixture of Methanol and Nitric acid, or by the nitration of Methanol through a mixture of Sulfuric and Nitric acids. The first procedure is of higher risk due to the explosion danger of the MN vapour. The second procedure when done with industrial equipment can mitigate that danger.


MN is a powerful explosive (similar to NG) and is very sensitive to initiation by detonation. It is also highly volatile, which prevents it from being stored or handled safely and appears as a clear liquid with a density of 1.22 gr/cm³. MN was used as a rocket fuel by Germany in World War II, in a mixture containing 25% Methanol, which was named "myrol". More stable and safer rocket propellants have since replaced MN.


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