Initiation of solid explosives by mechanical impact

For some organic explosives of composition CHNO, experimental values of the critical pressure of explosion initiation are compared with the maximum possible heats of explosion, which are energetic constants of particular explosives. A correlation between these quantities is established. It is shown that an increase in the enthalpy of formation of explosive molecules is a major factor for increasing the technological and operational sensitivity. Methods for controlling the critical pressure are described. Limiting heats of explosion making impossible the practical use of particular explosives are estimated.