The EOD specialists said the package contained the highly explosive PETN and
lead azide substances, used in bomb detonators.
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).
Seventy-seven machine guns dwindled to four, and the unstable
lead azide was transformed into lead styphnate, then lead picrate, a less dangerous compound.
With NPED the sensitive primary explosive (
lead azide) has been eliminated and replaced by an initiation element which is filled with secondary explosive.
There were also traces of
lead azide, which is commonly used in detonators.
An explosive priming charge, typically
lead azide, is pressed into the detonator under the delay element.
(4) What is the motive behind spreading the story of half-literate terror activists using explosives like
Lead Azide? This volatile chemical, with strong brisance properties, can only be handled by professionals wearing flame retardant clothing and face protection equipment.
While the NDIA reports that Gonzalez did not specify which materials were of most concern to the Pentagon, Army officials in 2010 cited (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TATB) triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) ,
lead azide and calcium silicide among the energetic materials that had either one or no domestic producers.
The new investment will expand PMP s capacity to manufacture
lead azide, by 150% to more than 5 tons per month.
The bomb was attached to a syringe containing
lead azide, a chemical initiator that would have detonated the PETN explosive packed into each printer cartridge, the report said.
