Material Insights · Understanding the Material World

Explosives and propellants

Chemical stores built to release energy very fast, for mining and rockets.

Storage · Chemical · No. 91

  • Storage
  • Duration: Long-term
Storage · Chemical · Foundation · Energy

Kilogram for kilogram, TNT holds about 29 times less energy than hydrogen; explosives win on speed, not size.

Chart: Illustration: Explosives and propellants

Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Explosives and solid propellants mix fuel and oxidiser in one material, built to release energy by detonation or rapid burning.

Three things to know
  1. Explosives carry their own oxidiser, so they can release energy without any air at all.
  2. Mining copper, lithium and nickel for the energy transition depends on blasting, which earns Orica 86% of its revenue.
  3. NASA's new launch-pad hydrogen sphere holds 4,732 m3 and loses at most 0.048% a day to boil-off.
The journey
  1. 1 Raw chemicalsAmmonia-based ammonium nitrate, fuels, oxidisers
  2. 2 ManufactureExplosives and propellants with built-in oxidiser
  3. 3 Licensed storageMagazines, tanks and separation distances
  4. 4 ReleaseDetonation in microseconds, or rapid burning
  5. 5 Work doneRock broken in mines, rockets lifted
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