Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) is a Schedule 1, highly sensitive explosive. The relative effectiveness ratio of TATP versus Trinitrotoulene (TNT), as shown in the literature is TNT has only 70% the power of TATP. TATP can be detonated from various stimuli resulting in very dangerous and non-productive applications. TATP has generated an extremely negative stigma from being used for destructive purposes as explosives for terrorism. When considered as a prospective explosive needing a productive application, TATP is appealing in that the products from its detonation are acetone and ozone which are less detrimental to the environment compared to the standard nitrogen-based explosives. With an appropriate level of education on safe handling and use, prospective applications could be discovered<i>.</i> Presented here is a pertinent literature review and the analysis we have done on the synthesis and detonation of TATP, applications for TATP in blasting and biofuels, in addition to characterization via NMR, GC-MS, FTIR, and bomb calorimetry. Further research is needed to find prospective plastic stabilizers such that applications could be carried out with appropriate safety ensured.

TATP: An exploration of practical applications for highly sensitive explosives

2019 Spring National Meeting

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