INVESTIGATION OF SENSITIVITY OF FERTILIZER GRADE AMMONIUM NITRATE TO EXPLOSION

Abstract

In order to determine the probable cause and mechanism of the explosion of cargoes of fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate on shipboard at Texas City, Texas, on 16 and 17 April 1947, an investigation was made of the materials involved, possible contaminants, and the possibility of converting combustion of the bagged nitrate into a detonation. It was found that the combustion of nitrate and paper or wood can produce gaseous products which can undergo explosion and in turn initiate the explosion of unconsumed nitrate fertilizer. A hypothesis of the mechanism of the Texas City disaster was established on this basis. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 11, 1947
Accession Number
AD0655888

Entities

People

  • E. F. Reese
  • L. H. Eriksen
  • P. F. Macy
  • T. D. Dudderar

Organizations

  • Picatinny Arsenal

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ammonium Nitrate
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Combustion
  • Decomposition
  • Detonations
  • Dielectric Gases
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Fertilizers
  • Fires
  • Gases
  • Ignition
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Munitions
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Rocket Oxidizers

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.