TM 31-210
Improvised Munitions Handbook
| Section I |
No. 13 |
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UREA NITRATE EXPLOSIVE |
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| Urea nitrate can be used as an explosive munition. It is easy to prepare from nitric acid and urine. It can be detonated with a blasting cap. | |
| MATERIALS REQUIRED: | SOURCES: |
| Nitric acid, 90% conc. (sp. gr. of 1.48) | Field grade nitric acid (Section I, No. 4) or industrial metal processors |
| Urine | Animals (including humans) |
| 2 - one gallon heat and acid-resistant containers (glass, clay, etc.) | |
| Filtering material | Paper towel or finely textured cotton cloth (shirt, sheet, etc.) |
| Aluminum powder (optional or if available) | Paint stores |
| Heat source | |
| Measuring containers (cup and spoon) | |
| Water | |
| Tape | |
| Blasting cap | |
| Steel pipe and end cap(s) | |
| Note: Prepare mixture just before use. | |
| PROCEDURE: | |
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1. Boil a large quantity of urine (10 cups) to approximately 1/10 its volume (1 cup) in one of the containers over the heat source. |
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2. Filter the urine into the other container through the filtering material to remove impurities. |
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3. Slowly add 1/3 cup of nitric acid to the filtered urine, and let mixture stand for 1 hour. |
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CAUTION: Acid will burn skin and destroy clothing. If any is spilled, wash it away with a large quantity of water. Do not inhale fumes. |
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4. Filter mixture as in Step 2. Urea nitrate crystals will collect on the paper. |
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5. Wash the urea nitrate by pouring water over it.
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6. Remove urea nitrate crystals from the filtering material and allow to dry thoroughly (approximately 16 hours). |
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Note: the drying time can be reduced to two hours if a hot (not boiling) water batch is used (Step 5 of Section I, No. 15). |
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| HOW TO USE: | |
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1. Spoon the urea nitrate crystals into an iron or steel pipe which has an end cap threaded on one end. |
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2. Insert blasting cap just beneath the surface of the urea nitrate crystals. |
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Notes: This explosive can be made more effective by mixing with aluminum powder (can be obtained in paint stores) in the ratio of 4 to 1. For example, mix 1 cup of aluminum powder with 4 cups of urea nitrate. Confining the open end of the container will add to the effectiveness of the explosive. |
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