Examples o substances used as absorbents include; rice, shells, sawdust, hulls, wood and nut shells (Burtsell, 1943).
Antifreezes – typically used in reducing the explosive point.
Air Gap Sensitivity – This is referred to as the degree of an explosive's sensitivity from cartridges to cartridge under test conditions. The measurements are conveyed as the air distance through which a donor half–cartridge can detonate a prime receptor half-cartridge (Burtsell, 1943).
Cap Sensitivity - This minimum amount of pressure, power or energy that is needed to detonate an explosive.
Strength – in commercial dynamites, there are two ratings of strength, Weight strength and bulk/cartridge strength. According to Burtsell (1943), the weight strength relates products with same weight basis whereas the cartridge strength is compared on an equal volume basis. Both strengths are measured in percentages by use of straight nitroglycerin dynamite as the standard (Thompson, 1940). However, with the introduction of new explosives for instance he ANFO and slurries, the technique of receiving relevant data on strength using dynamite method failed. A contemporary blaster has to consider the detonation pressure and gas pressure (Burtsell, 1943).
Classification of Explosives.
Propellants/Low Explosives - These are explosives made of combustible materials that contain oxygen in them that undergo combustion without exploding. The combustion, however, produces gases that yield an explosion that deliver different energy levels. An example of propellants is smokeless powder and black powder. Energy levels produced depend on the type of powder, slow or fast (Davis, 1941).
Primary Explosives - These explosives are the initiators or detonators upon subjection to heat or shock. The primary explosives differ in their level of sensitivity to heat and shock a trait that reflects the amount of heat or shock released(Thompson, 1940).
