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my original assesment was wrong
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Francis L.
Francis L.
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edit: my original assesment was wrong

It does decompose exothermicallyENDOTHERMICALLY, so it's not self propagating, and is not a low explosive: NH4NO3 - > 2H2O + N2O

Judging by theHowever a passing shockwave it wascan induce this decomposition in a detonation, but it may have started as deflagration first. Every low explosive has definedlarge quantity in which it will undergo deflagration to detonation transitionof ammonium nitrate at once, thatwhich is when put into a pile in open space and igniteddetonation. If there were tonsThe starting shockwave could have come from another explosive or from a fuel fire that was intensified by the oxidizing properties of it stored inammonium nitrate. Not sure about exactly how the port itlatter happens, but this is probable that's what happenednot the first time it did

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_nitrate_disasters

It does decompose exothermically: NH4NO3 - > 2H2O + N2O

Judging by the shockwave it was a detonation, but it may have started as deflagration first. Every low explosive has defined quantity in which it will undergo deflagration to detonation transition, that is when put into a pile in open space and ignited. If there were tons of it stored in the port it is probable that's what happened

edit: my original assesment was wrong

It does decompose ENDOTHERMICALLY, so it's not self propagating, and is not a low explosive: NH4NO3 - > 2H2O + N2O

However a passing shockwave can induce this decomposition in a large quantity of ammonium nitrate at once, which is a detonation. The starting shockwave could have come from another explosive or from a fuel fire that was intensified by the oxidizing properties of ammonium nitrate. Not sure about exactly how the latter happens, but this is not the first time it did

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_nitrate_disasters

deleted 11 characters in body
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Francis L.
Francis L.
  • 1.5k
  • 8
  • 20

It does decompose exothermically: NH4NO3 - > 2H2O + N2O

Judging by the shockwave it was a detonation, but it may have started as deflagration first. Every low explosive has defined quantity in which it will undergo deflagration to detonation transition unconfined, that is when put into a pile in open space and ignited. If there were tons of it stored in the port it is probable that's what happened

It does decompose exothermically: NH4NO3 - > 2H2O + N2O

Judging by the shockwave it was a detonation, but it may have started as deflagration first. Every low explosive has defined quantity in which it will undergo deflagration to detonation transition unconfined, that is when put into a pile in open space and ignited. If there were tons of it stored in the port it is probable that's what happened

It does decompose exothermically: NH4NO3 - > 2H2O + N2O

Judging by the shockwave it was a detonation, but it may have started as deflagration first. Every low explosive has defined quantity in which it will undergo deflagration to detonation transition, that is when put into a pile in open space and ignited. If there were tons of it stored in the port it is probable that's what happened

Source Link
Francis L.
Francis L.
  • 1.5k
  • 8
  • 20

It does decompose exothermically: NH4NO3 - > 2H2O + N2O

Judging by the shockwave it was a detonation, but it may have started as deflagration first. Every low explosive has defined quantity in which it will undergo deflagration to detonation transition unconfined, that is when put into a pile in open space and ignited. If there were tons of it stored in the port it is probable that's what happened