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Barium Nitrate

Definition

Ba(NO3)2, the oxidiser in conventional primer formulations, decomposing thermally to release molecular oxygen that sustains the combustion of antimony sulphide fuel.

Related terms

Antimony Sulphide
Sb2S3, the primary fuel in conventional primer formulations, burning rapidly in the presence of oxygen released by barium nitrate during ignition.
ASTM E1588
ASTM International standard practice for gunshot residue analysis by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry. Defines particle classification (characteristic, consistent-with, indicative), morphology...
Automated Particle Search (APS)
A software-driven SEM mode that scans the entire stub surface using backscattered electron contrast, flags particles above an atomic-number threshold, and triggers...
Characteristic Particle
ASTM E1588 category: a single particle in which Pb, Sb, and Ba are simultaneously detected by EDS, with morphology consistent with melt-and-quench...
Consistent Particle
ASTM E1588 category: a particle containing two of the three primer elements (Pb-Sb, Pb-Ba, or Sb-Ba), or all three elements without spherical...
ENFSI EWG-GSR
The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes Expert Working Group on Gunshot Residue. Produces best-practice manuals, proficiency test rounds, and guidance on...
Lead Styphnate
Lead trinitroresorcinate (Pb(C6H(NO2)3O2)), the primary explosive in conventional primer compounds. Co-oxidised with barium nitrate and antimony sulfide to produce the Pb-Ba-Sb triad...
Melt-and-Quench Mechanism
The physical process by which GSR particles form: primer components are vaporised at firing temperatures, condense into spherical droplets in the expanding...
Secondary Transfer
The movement of a glass fragment from a primary surface (which contacted the broken glass) to a secondary surface (which contacted the...

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