Dense Inert Metal Explosive Dense Inert Metal Explosive ( DIME ) is an experimental type of explosive that has a relatively small but effective blast radius . It is manufactured by producing a homogenous mixture of an explosive material ( such as phlegmatized HMX or RDX ) and small particles of a chemically inert material such as tungsten . It is intended to limit the distance at which the explosion causes damage , to avoid collateral damage in warfare . The phrase " inert metal " refers to a metal that is not chemically active and therefore not part of the chemical reaction that causes the explosion , as opposed to some metals , such as aluminium , that do form part of the chemical reaction — e . g . in Tritonal . An emerging criticism of DIME weapons is that they might turn out to have strong biological effects in those who are hit by the micro - shrapnel from these types of explosives . DIME mixtures have been studied for some time , but apparently only began to be adopted for weapons after the year 2000 . Method of operation . DIME weapons consist of a carbon fiber casing filled with a mixture of explosive and very dense microshrapnel , consisting of very small particles ( 1 – 2 mm ) or powder of a heavy metal . To date , tungsten alloy ( heavy metal tungsten alloy , or HMTA ) composed of tungsten and other metals such as cobalt and nickel or iron has been the preferred material for the dense microshrapnel or powder . Two common HMTA alloys are : Upon detonation of the explosive , the casing disintegrates into extremely small particles , as opposed to larger pieces of shrapnel which results from the fragmentation of a metal shell casing . The HMTA powder acts like micro - shrapnel which is very lethal at close range ( about 4 meters or 13 feet ) , but loses momentum very quickly due to air resistance , coming to a halt within approximately 40 times the diameter of the charge . This increases the probability of killing people within a few meters of the explosion while reducing the probability of causing death and injuries or damage farther away . Survivors close to the lethal zone may have their limbs amputated ( as the microshrapnel can slice through soft tissue and bone ) by the HMTA microshrapnel embedded in their body tissue . Toxic / carcinogenic effects . The carcinogen ic effects of heavy metal tungsten alloys ( HMTA ) have been studied by the U . S . Armed Forces since at least the year 2000 ( along with depleted uranium ( DU ) ) . These alloys were found to cause neoplastic transformations of human osteoblast cells . A more recent U . S . Department of Health and Human Services study in 2005 found that HMTA shrapnel rapidly induces rhabdomyosarcoma cancers in rats . The tungsten alloy carcinogenicity may be most closely related to the nickel content of the alloys used in weapons to date . However , pure tungsten and tungsten trioxide are also suspected of causing cancer and other toxic properties , and have been shown to have such effects in animal studies . In 2009 , a group of Italian scientists affiliated with the watchdog group New Weapons Research Committee ( NWRC ) pronounced DIME wounds " untreatable " because the powdered tungsten cannot be removed surgically . Speculation of use . In July / August 2006 , doctors in the Gaza Strip reported unusual wounds caused by Israel Defense Forces attacks against Palestinian targets , claiming that they were from a previously unknown weapons . A lab analysis of the metals found in the victims ' bodies was reportedly " compatible with the hypothesis " that DIME weapons were involved . Israel denied possessing or using such weapons , and an Israeli military expert said that the wounds were consistent with ordinary explosives . Dr . Mads Gilbert and Dr . Erik Fosse , working on wounded from the 2008 – 2009 Israel – Gaza conflict , reported injuries that they believed were caused by some new type of weapon used by Israel , which they suspected were DIME bombs .