Fito Para – C4

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C-4 or Composition C-4 is a common variety of the plastic explosive family known as Composition C. A similar British plastic explosive, based on RDX but with different plasticizer than Composition C-4, is known as PE-4 (Plastic Explosive No. 4). C-4 is composed of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer to make it malleable, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical.

C-4 has a texture similar to modeling clay and can be molded into any desired shape. C-4 is stable and an explosion can only be initiated by a shock wave from a detonator.
The Composition C-4 used by the United States Armed Forces contains 91% RDX (“Research Department Explosive”, an explosive nitroamine), 5.3% dioctyl sebacate (DOS) or dioctyl adipate (DOA) as the plasticizer (to increase the plasticity of the explosive), 2.1% polyisobutylene (PIB, a synthetic rubber) as the binder, and 1.6% of a mineral oil often called “process oil.” Instead of “process oil,” low-viscosity motor oil is used in the manufacture of C-4 for civilian use.[2]

The British PE4 consists of 88.0% cyclonite, 1.0% pentaerythrite dioleate and 11.0% DG-29 lithium grease (corresp. to 2.2% lithium stearate and 8.8% paraffin oil BP); a taggant (2,3-dinitro-2,3-dimethylbutane, DMNB) is added at a minium of 0.10% weight of the plastic explosive, typically at 1.0% mass. The newer PE7 consists of 88.0% cyclonite, 1.0% DMNB taggant and 11.0% of a plasticizer composed of low molecular mass hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, along with an antioxidant and an agent preventing hardening of the binder upon prolonged storage. The PE8 consists of 86.5% cyclonite, 1.0% DMNB taggant and 12.5% of a binder composed of di(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate thickened with high molecular mass polyisobutylene.

Technical data according to the Department of the Army for the Composition C-4 follows.
C-4 is manufactured by combining the above ingredients with binder dissolved in a solvent. Once the ingredients have been mixed, the solvent is extracted through drying and filtering. The final material is a solid with a dirty white to light brown color, a putty-like texture similar to modeling clay, and a distinct smell of motor oil.[3][4][5]

Depending on its intended usage and on the manufacturer, there are differences in the composition of C-4. For example, a 1990 U.S. Army technical manual stipulated that Class IV composition C-4 consists of 89.9±1% RDX, 10±1% polyisobutylene, and 0.2±0.02% dye that is itself made up of 90% lead chromate and 10% lamp black.[3] RDX classes A, B, E, and H are all suitable for use in C-4. Classes are measured by granulation.[6]

The manufacturing process for Composition C-4 specifies that wet RDX and plastic binder are added in a stainless steel mixing kettle. This is called the aqueous slurry-coating process.[7] The kettle is tumbled to obtain a homogeneous mixture. This mixture is wet and must be dried after transfer to drying trays. Drying with forced air for 16 hours at 50 °C to 60 °C is recommended to eliminate excess моистуре
C-4 is very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks. C-4 cannot be detonated by a gunshot or by dropping it onto a hard surface. It does not explode when set on fire or exposed to microwave radiation.[8] Detonation can only be initiated by a shockwave, such as when a detonator inserted into it is fired.[4] When detonated, C-4 rapidly decomposes to release nitrogen and carbon oxides as well as other gases.[4] The detonation proceeds at an explosive velocity of 8,092 m/s (26,550 ft/s).[9]

A major advantage of C-4 is that it can easily be moulded into any desired shape to change the direction of the resulting explosion.