Table of explosive detonation velocities

This is a list of the detonation velocities at specified (typically, the highest practical) density of various explosive compounds.

The velocity of detonation is an important indicator for overall energy or power of detonation, and in particular for the brisance or shattering effect of an explosive.

Table of Explosive Detonation Velocities

Explosive Name	Abbreviation	Detonation Velocity (m/s)	Density (g/cm³)
Aromatic explosives
1,3,5-trinitrobenzene	TNB	7,450	1.6
1,3,5-Triazido-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene	TATNB	7,300	1.71
4,4’-Dinitro-3,3’-diazenofuroxan	DDF	10,000	2.02
Trinitrotoluene	TNT	6,900	1.6
Trinitroaniline	TNA	7,300	1.72
Tetryl		7,570	1.71
Picric Acid	TNP	7,350	1.7
Dunnite		7,150	1.6
Methyl Picrate		6,800	1.57
Ethyl Picrate		6,500	1.55
Picryl Chloride		7,200	1.74
Trinitrocresol		6,850	1.62
Lead styphnate		5,200	2.9
Triaminotrinitrobenzene	TATB	7,350	1.80
Aliphatic explosives
Methyl nitrate		8,000	1.21
Nitroglycol	EGDN	8,000	1.48
Nitroglycerine	NG	7,700	1.59
Mannitol hexanitrate	MHN	8,260	1.73
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate	PETN	8,400	1.7
Erythritol tetranitrate	ETN	8,100	1.6
Ethylenedinitramine	EDNA	7,570	1.65
Nitroguanidine	NQ	8,200	1.7
Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine	RDX	8,750	1.76
Cyclotetramethylene Tetranitramine	HMX	9,100	1.91
Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane	HNIW or CL-20	9,400	2.04
Tetranitroglycoluril	Sorguyl	9,150	1.95
Octanitrocubane	ONC	10,100	2.0
Nitrocellulose	NC	7,300	1.2
Urea nitrate	UN	4,700	1.59
Organic Explosives
Acetone Peroxide	AP	5,300	1.18
Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine	HMTD	4,500	.88
Inorganic explosives
Mercury Fulminate		4,250	3.0
Lead azide		4,630	3.0
Silver azide		4,000	4.0
Ammonium Nitrate	AN	5,270	1.3
Explosive Name	Abbreviation	Detonation Velocity (m/s)	Density (g/cm³)

References

• Cooper, Paul W., Explosives Engineering, New York: Wiley-VCH, 1996. ISBN 0-471-18636-8