Baratol (explosive)

Baratol is an explosive made of a mixture of TNT and barium nitrate, with a small quantity (about 1%) [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/explosives-compositions.htm Explosives - Compounds ] ] of wax used as a binder. TNT typically makes up 25-33% of the mixture. Because of the high density of barium nitrate, Baratol has a density of at least 2.5.

Baratol was used as the "slow" compound in the explosive lenses of early atomic bombs with Composition B often used as the "fast" explosive component. Atomic bombs like those detonated in 1945 at Trinity, the Soviet Joe 1 in 1949, and in India in 1972, used baratol and Composition B. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/explosives-compositions.htm Explosives - Compounds ] ]

Baratol has a detonation velocity of approximately 4,900 metres per second. [ [http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3956039.html High explosive compound - Patent 3956039 ] ]

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