Glossary of terms 

ANFO 

Base Charge 

Binary Explosive 

Black Powder 

Black Powder Substitutes 

Blasting Agent 

Blasting Cap 

Bomb 

Booby Trap 

Booster 

Brisance 

C4 

Cannon Fuse 

Combustion 

Deflagration 

Detasheet (Det Sheet) 

A mixture of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil. 

The main high explosive charge in a blasting cap. 

Two substances which are not explosive until they are mixed. 

A low explosive traditiona lly consisting of potassium nitrate, 

sulfur and charcoal. Sodium nitrate may be found in place of 

potassium nitrate. 

Modified black powder formulations such as but not limited to: 

Pyrodex, Black Canyon, Golden Powder, Clean Shot, and Clear 

Shot. 

A high explosive with low-sensitivity usually based on ammonium 

nitrate and not containing additional high explosive(s). 

A metal tube containing a primary high explosive capable of 

initiating most explosives. 

A device containing an explosive, incendiary, or chemical material 

designed to explode. 

A concealed or camouflaged device designed to injure or kill 

personnel. 

A cap sensitive high explosive used to initiate other less sensitive 

high explosives. 

The shattering power associated with high explosives. 

A white pliable military plastic explosive containing primarily 

Cyclonite (RDX). 

A coated, thread-wrapped cord filled with black powder designed 

to initiate flame-sensitive explosives. 

Any type of exothermic oxidation reaction, including, but not 

limited to burning, deflagration and/or detonation. 

An exothermic reaction that occurs particle to particle at subsonic 

speed. 

A plastic explosive in sheet form containing PETN, HMX or RDX. 
Detonation An exothermic reaction that propagates a shockwave through an 

explosive at supersonic speed (greater than 3300ft/sec). 

Detonation Cord (Det-Cord) A plastic/fiber wrapped cord containing a core of PETN or RDX. 

Detonator A device used for detonating many types of high explosives. 

Double Base A smokeless powder which contains both nitroglycerine and 

nitrocellulose. 

Dud An explosive device which has undergone a complete arming and 

firing cycle but has failed to explode. It should be noted that this is 

a very dangerous situation. 

Dynamite Originally a mixture of nitroglycerine and an absorbent filler now 

used to designate an entire class of high explosives. 

Electric Match A metal wire coated with a pyrotechnic mixture designed to 

produce a small burst of flame designed to initiate a low explosive. 

Electric Squib A metal wire surrounded by a pyrotechnic mixture and encased 

within a metal tube which produces a small jet of flame designed 

to initiate a low explosive. 

Explosion A rapid expansion of gases resulting from a chemical or physical 

action that produces a pressure wave. 

Explosive A chemical substance or mixture capable of producing an 

explosion. 

Explosive Compound A single chemical compound capable of causing an explosion. 

Explosive Mixture A mixture of chemical compounds capable of causing an 

explosion. 

Explosive Ordnance Bomb squad. 

Disposal (EOD) 

Explosive Train A series of combustible or explosive components arranged in 

order of decreasing sensitivity designed to initiate explosives. 

Firing Train See "Explosive Train". 

Flex-X See “Det Sheet”. 
 

Frag Any item(s) produced and cast away from an explosion. 

Fuel Any substance capable of reacting with oxygen or oxygen-carriers 

(oxidizers). 

Fuse A fiber wrapped cord of black powder used to initiate blasting caps 

or low explosives. 

Fuze A mechanical, chemical, or electrical device designed to initiate an 

explosive train. 

Gunpowder See "Black Powder". 

High Explosive Generally a chemical substance or mixture capable of detonation. 

HMX Octagen, a high explosive formed as a by product during the 

manufacture of RDX. 

Hoax A "dummy" device intended to appear as a bomb but not 

containing an explosive. 

Hobby Fuse See "Cannon Fuse". 

Improvised Explosive A non-commercially produced device designed to explode. 

Device (IED) 

Incendiary A compound, metal or mixture capable of producing intense heat. 

Inert A simulated explosive or device that contains no explosive, 

pyrotechnic, or chemical/biological agent. 

Initiator The part of an explosive train which starts the reaction. 

Low Explosive Generally a chemical compound or mixture that can deflagrate 

without the addition of atmospheric oxygen. 

Main Charge The main or final explosive in an explosive train. 

Munitions Any and all military explosives. 

Munroe Effect The focusing of the force produced by an explosion resulting in an 

increased pressure wave. 

Ordnance See “Munitions”. 
Oxidizer 

PETN 

Plastic Bonded 

Explosives (PBX) 

Plastic Explosives 

Primary High Explosive 

Primer 

Primer cap 

Pyrotechnic Fuse 

Pyrotechnic Mixtures 

RDX 

Report 

Safety Fuse 

Secondary High Explosive 

Semtex 

Shaped Charge 

Shock Tube 

Shrapnel 

A chemical compound which supplies the oxygen in a chemical 

reaction. 

Pentaerythritoltetranitrate, a high explosive used in many 

applications. 

A high explosive in a pliable plastic matrix, i.e. C4, Det Flex. 

Common term for PBX. 

A high explosive sensitive to heat, shock, spark, and/or friction. 

See "Initiator". 

A small metal device containing a impact sensitive primary high 

explosive commonly found in ammunition or used in initiators. 

See "Cannon Fuse". 

An oxidizer/fuel mixture which produces bright or colored lights, 

heat, fogs, or acoustic effects. 

Cyclonite, high explosive used in PBX and other applications. 

A loud sound produced by an explosion. 

A water-proof coated, thread-wrapped cord filled with black 

powder designed to be used to initiate a non-electric blasting cap. 

A less sensitive high explosive initiated by another explosive. 

Plastic explosive primarily containing Pentaerythritoltetranitrate 

(PETN) made in Czech Republic. 

An explosive device which is designed to direct or focus explosive 

energy into a narrow jet. The created plasma has a synergistic 

effect increasing the heat and energy on the target area. 

Hollow plastic tube coated with a thin coating of HMX and 

powdered aluminum used in non-electric firing systems. 

Objects which are attached to the outside or included inside a 

device to increase the blast damage and/or injure/kill personnel. 

The device/container walls themselves can also function in this 

manner. 
Single Base A smokeless powder which contains nitrocellulose but does not 

contain nitroglycerine or nitroguanidine. 

Smokeless Powder A low explosive used in ammunition as a propellant, which can be 

single, double, or triple based 

Triple Base A smokeless powder which contains nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, 

and nitroguanidine.