The EOD specialists said the package contained the highly explosive PETN and
lead azide substances, used in bomb detonators.
The original caps used chlorate of potash with fulminate of mercury, but most modern primers use
lead azide, potassium per-chlorate or lead styphnate.
The devices contained
lead azide, red phosphorus and barium.
Also found at the property were overalls, large quantities of surgical gloves, packages for chemicals including sodium chlorate (weedkiller), sulphuric acid, sulphur and
lead azide, plus tools and face masks.
Six inorganic azides were studied: [alpha]
lead azide, [beta]
lead azide, barium azide, potassium azide, sodium azide and thallium azide, all highly energetic materials (14).
BATF officials spoke of seizing 77 machine guns, hundreds of other firearms, tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, booby traps, tons of ammonium nitrate (the fertilizer used in the Oklahoma City bombing), and explosives such as nitromethane (also used in Oklahoma City) and lead azide, described by experts as a powerful and unstable primary explosive.
Seventy-seven machine guns dwindled to four, and the unstable lead azide was transformed into lead styphnate, then lead picrate, a less dangerous compound.
There were also traces of
lead azide, which is commonly used in detonators.
The devices contained
lead azide, red phosphorus, barium, copper, solvents, perchlorate and other chemicals.
The flame from the delay element causes the
lead azide to detonate which then initiates detonation of the base charge explosive, normally PETN.
Sodium azide can also react with metals such as copper or lead form explosive copper or
lead azides.
