The oxygen balance is the index that determines whether an explosive releases or needs oxygen for a complete decomposition.
From the point of view of transport phenomena, this is a matter of balance.
Principally, explosives with a positive oxygen balance do not lose their effectiveness when used in an oxygen-free environment, such as underwater, while those with a negative balance will have a drop in power due to the lack of deflagration of certain products .
For example, ETN decomposes according to the following equation: 2 C4H6N4O12 → 8 CO2 + 6 H2O + 4 N2 + O2
while PETN: C5H8N4O12 → 3 CO2 + 2 CO + 4 H2O + 2 N2
As can be seen, the detonation products (water, nitrogen, oxygen) can no longer be decomposed in the ETN while oxygen is released. This results in a positive balance.
In PETN, however, oxygen is not produced but carbon monoxide, a flammable gas. To complete the decomposition of reagents, PETN has to be detonated in a rich oxygen site so that it combines with carbon monoxide to give carbon dioxide. This mechanism results in a significantly negative oxygen balance. Voices correlateemodify wikitesto
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