Is ammonium nitrate an explosive on its own, or just the oxidiser in ANFOS?

Anfos detonates, it is a high explosive, not a low explosive. NH4NO3 is a high explosive on its own. When a powerful shockwave is sent through the material, the molecule breaks down very quickly. That is the same thing that anfos does, the NH4NO3 does not provide oxygen for the fuel oil to burn, the oil just sensitizes it.

Thanks, i didnt realise that.

����Bear in mind that ammonium nitrate itself is very, very insensitive. It's hard to set it off even with a professional blasting cap, which is why it is almost always mixed with a sensitizing agent when it is detonated. You can use diesel, aluminum powder, nitromethane, and a whole host of other things to sensitize ammonium nitrate.

~Zero

Zero, can you add gasoline to sensitize the Ammonium Nitrate?? I just got 20 ounces of the stuff from ice-packs. After sensitizing, can I detonate with a regular BP based fuse?

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Originally posted by JakeTakeoko:
Zero, can you add gasoline to sensitize the Ammonium Nitrate?? I just got 20 ounces of the stuff from ice-packs. After sensitizing, can I detonate with a regular BP based fuse?

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You can use Diesel, no, it needs a blasting cap with a primary explosive to initiate it.

����I'd call that a one-in-a-million chance. I doubt not that it's possible, under absolutely perfect conditions, but it's not something that you'll reproduce easily. Many people have trouble detonating ANFO with proper blasting caps, let alone flash powder.
����If the flash powder were mixed with the ammonium nitrate the right way you might have something. Even then, though, it's unlikely. You would have a very large oxygen excess, and I think the mixture would be prone to burn improperly.

~Zero

the flash powder might of sensitized it though, like diesel, charcoal, or aluminum.