
What is detcord made of?
Detonating cord (also called detonation cord, detacord, det. cord, detcord, primer cord or sun cord) is a thin, flexible plastic tube usually filled with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN, pentrite). With the PETN exploding at a rate of approximately 6400 m/s, any common length of detonation cord appears to explode instantaneously.
What does detcord stand for?
Detonating cord (also called detonation cord, detacord, det. cord, detcord, primer cord or sun cord) is a thin, flexible plastic tube usually filled with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN, pentrite). With the PETN exploding at a rate of approximately 6400 m/s, any common length of detonation cord appears...
What is a detonating cord made of?
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Detonating cord (also called detonation cord, detacord, det. cord, detcord, primer cord or sun cord) is a thin, flexible plastic tube usually filled with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN, pentrite).
Who makes Det cords?
Dyno Nobel manufactures the world's most well known brands of detonating cord (det cord), available in a wide variety of coreloads (from 7.5 to 400 gr/ft) and either a textile jacket (Primacord®) or a plastic jacket (Primaline®), for a wide variety of mining explosive needs.

Is det cord an explosive?
PRIMACORD det cords are flexible linear explosives with a core of PETN explosive encased in a textile outer jacket.
Is det cord real?
Detonating Cord is a linear explosive consisting of a PETN powder wrapped in a flexible plastic outer coating. Manufactured in the EU, EPC-UK is able to supply a comprehensive range of cord weights for a variety of applications.
How is det cord ignited?
Detonating cord is initiated by a blasting cap. When initiated, it will explode over an entire length and detonate any properly connected demolition material.
Can you shoot det cord?
Avoid loops, sharp kinks, or angles that direct the detonating cord back toward the oncoming line of detonation. Never attempt to cut detonating cord with a blow from a sharp or blunt object. Never saw detonating cord; it may explode and kill or injure.
What is det cord made of?
cord, detcord, primer cord or sun cord) is a thin, flexible plastic tube usually filled with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN, pentrite). With the PETN exploding at a rate of approximately 6,400 m/s (21,000 ft/s), any common length of detonation cord appears to explode instantaneously.
How fast does det cord burn?
about four miles per secondDetonating cord is a linear form of a high explosive. Unlike black powder, detonating cord contains a core of a very high-velocity explosive that detonates (rather than burns) at a speed of about four miles per second.
Why is nitroglycerin so explosive?
Nitroglycerin, with the molecular formula C3H5(ONO2)3, has a high nitrogen content (18.5 percent) and contains sufficient oxygen atoms to oxidize the carbon and hydrogen atoms while nitrogen is being liberated, so that it is one of the most powerful explosives known.
What is a dynamite wick made of?
Dynamite is an explosive made of nitroglycerin, sorbents (such as powdered shells or clay) and stabilizers. It was invented by the Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel in Geesthacht, Northern Germany and patented in 1867.
What explosive is in a blasting cap?
mercury fulminate1. Fuse caps contain explosives like mercury fulminate, lead azide, and lead styphnate. Fuse caps are usually small metal tubes 1” – 2” in length and approximately ¼” in diameter. Fuse caps can detonate if subjected to heat, shock, or static electricity.
How explosive is PETN?
PETN is a very powerful explosive material with a relative effectiveness factor of 1.66. When mixed with a plasticizer, PETN forms a plastic explosive. Along with RDX it is the main ingredient of Semtex.
What is the string on a bomb called?
fuse. noun. an object like string that burns slowly to make a bomb, firework etc explode.
How explosive is PETN?
PETN is a very powerful explosive material with a relative effectiveness factor of 1.66. When mixed with a plasticizer, PETN forms a plastic explosive. Along with RDX it is the main ingredient of Semtex.
How does a non-electric detonator work?
Non-electric detonators It consists of a small diameter, three-layer plastic tube coated on the innermost wall with a reactive explosive compound, which, when ignited, propagates a low energy signal, similar to a dust explosion.
How does a shock tube detonator work?
A shock tube detonator is a non-electric explosive fuze or initiator in the form of small-diameter hollow plastic tubing used to transport an initiating signal to an explosive by means of a shock wave (also known as a percussive wave) traveling the length of the tube.
What is electric detonator?
Electronic detonators are modern, fully programmable and intelligent high strength detonators. Each detonator contains a circuit board that can be programmed to initiate at precise millisecond timing within a firing sequence.
Effects
As a transmission medium, it can act as a downline between the initiator (usually a trigger) and the blast area, and as a trunkline connecting several different explosive charges.
Rating
Detonating cord is rated in explosive mass per unit length. This is expressed in grains per foot in the United States, or in grams per metre elsewhere. A "grams per metre" rating will be roughly one fifth the "grains per foot" rating. For example, "50 grain det.
Direct employment
Low-yield detonating cord can be used as a precision cutting charge to remove cables, pipes, wiring, fiber optics, and other utility bundles by placing one or more complete wraps around the target. Detcord/Primacord is used in commercial boilers to break up clinkers (solidified coal ash slag) adhering to tube structures.
Colloquialisms
The Finnish army colloquialism for detonation cord is anopin pyykkinaru (mother-in-law's clothesline), as it resembles ordinary clothesline.
How to initiate a det cord?
Det cord can be initiated by either an electric cap or a fused cap.
What is a military fuse starter?
the military type safety fuse starters , which are a firing pin device.
Can you detonate a det cord with a shotgun shell?
It is possible to detonate det cord with shotgun shells' primers. Of course
What is a detonating cord?
Dyno Nobel manufactures the world's most well known brands of detonating cord (det cord), available in a wide variety of coreloads (from 7.5 to 400 gr/ft) and either a textile jacket (Primacord®) or a plastic jacket (Primaline®), for a wide variety of mining explosive needs. PRIMACORD det cords are flexible linear explosives with a core ...
What is a primacord cord?
PRIMACORD det cords are flexible linear explosives with a core of PETN explosive encased in a textile outer jacket. PRIMACORD detonating cords are designed for use as trunklines and/or downlines in various mining, quarrying and construction applications.
What is a det cord?
Det cord is normally run between larger charges, to detonate all of them together. This is helpful when an array of charges is used for seismic energy, demolition or in quarry operations.
How to set off a military det cord?
Military Det cord can be set off with Military special rated Electric or None electric blasting caps taped to the cord at least 6 inches from a cut end. Water migration into cut cord ends can be a problem. Usually done in pairs if None electric with separate fuses if electric wired in series. Modern Shock tube sets have replaced some uses of Det cord and enhanced the safety of Det cord usage with a powerful initiation shock with less likelihood of a misfire. There are many setup tricks to ensuring the cord detonates when the caps or shock tube go off. Also routing of the cord so it is not cut
How does a detonating cord work?
Detonating cord is an explosive- usually PETN- in the shape of a cord or small rope. It is exploded by the shock of a blasting cap that is attached to the cord. An electric blasting cap can be detonated by the use of a blasting machine- which you are calling a plunger box. When the handle is pushed down quickly, it spins a generator and charges a capacitor. At the bottom of the stroke a switch closes, and all of the store electricity is released into the wires attached to the blasting machine.
Why did the detonator detonate in WW1?
the very act of the plunger being depressed built up an electrical charge, through interactions between magnets and coils of copper wire like a generator, that then caused the detonation when the plunger reached bottom and touched the contacts. (kind of like the worst static shock you could think of.)
How much force is needed to activate a det cord?
For most det cord, 600 psi of percussive force is required to initiate it. That is normally done with a blasting cap. A blasting cap is like a bullet shell/casing, except instead of using a firing pin, it’s set off with an electric charge. The blasting cap is normally taped to the cord, often in a U-shaped loop to insure that it won’t misfire.
What is a detonating cord?
Detonating cord is a hollow, thin walled plastic tube filled with an explosive material -usually Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and covered with fabric or a heavier layer of plastic. It is commonly sold in 1,000 ft. rolls, and is most often used to detonate other explosive charges.
Is a det cord a fuse?
Det cord or Primacord is not like a simple fuse, as you’d find on a firecracker. It’s actually a high explosive in and of itself, which detonates extremely quickly and requires percussive force in order to ignite it. It’s a very powerful and dangerous blasting component.

Overview
Detonating cord (also called detonation cord, detacord, det. cord, detcord, primer cord or sun cord) is a thin, flexible plastic tube usually filled with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN, pentrite). With the PETN exploding at a rate of approximately 6,400 m/s (21,000 ft/s), any common length of detonation cord appears to explode instantaneously. It is a high-speed fuse which explodes, rath…
Effects
As a transmission medium, it can act as a downline between the initiator (usually a trigger) and the blast area, and as a trunkline connecting several different explosive charges. As a timing mechanism, detonation cord detonates at a very reliable rate (about 6,000–7,000 m/s or 23,000–26,000 ft/s), enabling engineers to control the pattern in which charges are detonated. This is particularly useful for demolitions, when structural elements need to be destroyed in a sp…
Rating
Detonating cord is rated in explosive mass per unit length. This is expressed in grains per foot in the United States, or in grams per metre elsewhere. A "grams per metre" rating will be roughly one fifth the "grains per foot" rating. For example, "50 grain det. cord" refers to detonating cord which has 50 grains of explosive per foot of length—or approximately 10 g/m. This is a typical "default" rating for connecting charges for blasting; lighter detonating cords may be used for "lo…
Direct employment
Low-yield detonating cord can be used as a precision cutting charge to remove cables, pipes, wiring, fiber optics, and other utility bundles by placing one or more complete wraps around the target. Detonation cord is used in commercial boilers to break up clinkers (solidified coal ash slag) adhering to tube structures. Also a vertical centered cord being lowered into the water of a drilled well can remove any clogging that obstructs water flow. Higher-yield detonating cord can be use…
Colloquialisms
In Filipino, the corresponding word mitsa has come to be used in the phrase mitsa ng buhay, which translates to "detonating cord of [one's] life", a metaphor for something that is very likely to cause one's death via direct jeopardization (e.g. extreme sports, versus smoking).
In media
Detonation cord was referenced in the 2009 film A Perfect Getaway by Timothy Olyphant's character as "a handy tool".
A length of detonation cord was used to clear a path through a minefield in the 2009 film Terminator Salvation.
Detonation cord was shown to be used by US cavalry troops to clear trees from a landing zone i…
See also
• Shock tube detonator - another type of tubular explosive detonation system with a very light loading of explosive and no direct blasting effect
External links
• "Primacord Technical Information" (PDF). Dyno Nobel.
• "Cordtex Technical Information" (PDF). Orica.