Organic Peroxide Explosive
Definition
An explosive in which the energetic groups are peroxide linkages (-O-O-) rather than nitro groups. TATP and HMTD are the forensically significant members. They contain no nitrogen-based oxidiser and are therefore invisible to most nitro-explosive detection systems.
- Energetic group
- Peroxide linkage (-O-O-)
- Key examples
- TATP, HMTD
- Nitrogen content
- None
- Detection risk
- Missed by nitro-explosive detectors
Common questions
Why are TATP and HMTD a particular concern for airport and venue security screening?+
Most conventional explosive trace detectors and ion mobility spectrometers are tuned to detect nitro groups from TNT, RDX and similar military and commercial explosives. Because peroxide explosives contain no nitrogen-based oxidiser, they can pass through detection systems calibrated only for nitro compounds unless the equipment is specifically configured for peroxide detection.
Why are homemade peroxide explosives considered especially hazardous to handle forensically?+
TATP and HMTD are primary explosives that are highly sensitive to friction, heat and shock, and they can be synthesised from readily available precursor chemicals, which makes both the manufacturing process and any post-blast forensic handling of undetonated material unusually dangerous compared with secondary military explosives.
Related terms
- Critical Diameter
- The minimum charge diameter below which a detonation wave cannot sustain itself, because energy losses to the sides of the charge exceed...
- Detonating Cord
- A cord with a PETN explosive core (5-40 g/m) that detonates at approximately 6,400 m/s when initiated. Used to connect multiple charges...
- DNT Isomers (2,4-DNT and 2,6-DNT)
- Dinitrotoluene intermediates and impurities present in manufactured TNT. Their molar ratio in post-blast debris or intact samples provides a manufacturing signature that...
- HMTD (Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine)
- A peroxide explosive analogue of TATP, synthesised from hexamine (hexamethylenetetramine), hydrogen peroxide, and citric acid. Similar sensitivity profile. Detected by LC-MS/MS as...
- Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS)
- A field-deployable analytical technique that separates ions by their mobility in an electric field at atmospheric pressure. Used for trace explosive detection...
- Nitramine
- A cyclic explosive in which the nitro groups are attached to nitrogen atoms within the ring (N-NO2), as in RDX and HMX....
- Nitro Compound
- A molecule containing one or more -NO2 (nitro) groups covalently bonded to carbon. TNT is an aromatic nitro compound; PETN is a...
- Oxygen Balance
- A percentage expressing the surplus or deficit of oxygen in an explosive molecule relative to stoichiometric complete oxidation of carbon to CO2...
- Sublimation (TATP Context)
- The transition of a solid directly to vapour without passing through a liquid phase. TATP sublimes at room temperature (vapour pressure ~6.9...