Re:Possibility of explosion at Arkema chemical plant near Ho...
by vvanders on Wednesday August 30, 2017 @11:46PM
(#15138024)
Uf, ammonium perchlorate is literally rocket fuel, they use it in the SRBs and for a lot of amateur rocketry.
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Re:Possibility of explosion at Arkema chemical plant near Ho...
by ams6110 on Thursday August 31, 2017 @12:48AM
(#15138234)
It's not rocket fuel itself, it's an oxidizer. Storing it in aluminum bins as PEPCON did strikes me as quite risky, since aluminum powder with such an oxidizer would make a good solid rocket fuel or explosive. As a kid, friends and I used to make our own fireworks with ammonium nitrate fertilizer. These days if you buy much of that and aren't a farmer you'll likely get a visit from serious men in dark suits.
Re:Possibility of explosion at Arkema chemical plant near Ho...
by SAI_Peregrinus on Thursday August 31, 2017 @12:15AM
(#15138121)
Yes, and TATP is a high explosive. MEKP is almost as powerful (5200m/s detonation velocity vs 5300m/s for TATP) but much more useful commercially. It's a precursor for all sorts of plastics.