Why does dynamite sweat and why does it make it more dangerous when most explosives become more reactive as they dry?
In: 3296
Nitroglycerin is a thick liquid that really REALLY wants to violently explode. Like look at it the wrong way and it will explode levels of really keen.
To calm it down and make it safe to transport we mix it with something boring and stable like clay. Then we pack the mix in a tube and those tubes are what we call dynamite, and they are relatively safe to work with.
However over time the liquid nitroglycerin can seep out of the clay and then it goes back to being really keen to explode.
A bonus fact is this clay business was invented by a guy called Alfred Nobel, after whom the Nobel prizes are named.
Latest Answers