SEMTEX

 

                           

 

 

 

 

The SEMTEX family of industrial explosives are designed to be used for boostering, secondary blasting, destructions and special blasting works.

 

SEMTEX 1A

The above-mentioned explosives are based on crystalline PETN and non-explosive plasticizer. SEMTEX 1A is designed to be used for destruction of concrete, metal constructions or underwater blasting operations. They also may be used for construction of special cumulative and oriented charges.

 

 

Transportation classification: UN 0084, Explosive blasting, Type D , 1. 1 D

 

 

Standard packaging - All explosives are packed in outer UN approved cardboard boxes.

 

 

 

A Brief History of Plastic Explosive SEMTEX®

The history of plastic explosives starts in the time of the Second World War, when task units needed for destruction works easy to shape, water resistant high performance explosives, resistant at high temperatures and, primarily, safe to manipulate. The first types were mixtures of crystalline high explosives with vaseline or natural rubber. Plastic properties of explosives were gradually improved by using synthetic binders and plasticizers.

Plastic explosive SEMTEX® was developed in the late 1950s, series production started in the 1960s. The name is a combination of SEMTín and EXplosive. Originally SEMTEX® was designed primarily for the means of mine clearance, in the course of time its use was extended even at commercial blasting, where it was used especially as an explosive for boosters and for special destruction works.

SEMTEX® is not, of course, the only plastic explosive throughout the world. Similar types of explosives are produced by many producers. Out of the most known it is possible to mention:

USA C 4 (Composition 4)
Great Britain DEMEX, ROWANEX, PE 4
France PE 4, PLASTRITE (FORMEX P 1)
Poland PWM, NETROLIT
Germany Spreng Körper DM 12
Yugoslavia PP – 01 (C 4 )
Slovakia CHEMEX (C 4), TVAREX 4 A
Austria KNAUERIT

At first SEMTEX® was produced under trade mark B 1 for military purposes. From 1964 it was produced under trade mark SEMTEX® 1 A, from 1967 as SEMTEX® H and from 1987 as SEMTEX® 10. SEMTEX® 1 A was used primarily in the Czechoslovak Republic, SEMTEX® H was exported abroad, predominantly to Vietnam for mine clearance and pyrotechnic works. In 1981 the export into risky territories was banned and SEMTEX® was allowed to be exported into the countries of the Warsaw Treaty only, and in 1989 the export of this explosive was banned at all. Thanks to media, since the late 1980s the name SEMTEX® has generally become a synonym for plastic explosive throughout the world.


Experts from the Research Institute of Industrial Chemistry, a part of Explosia a.s., have participated actively in international negotiations on marking and detection of plastic explosives and considerably contributed to the conclusion of the "CONVENTION ON THE MARKING OF PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETECTION" done at Montreal on March 1st, 1991. The Czechoslovak Republic was one of the first countries to ratify this Convention, and Explosia a.s., as one of the first producers in the world carries out marking of all production of plastic explosives in a prescribed manner. Since 1991 the export of marked explosive SEMTEX® has been permitted again, with foreign trade with this explosive being subject to valid legislation and check up by relevant state authorities.

The fact is, that at present time there is practically zero new production of SEMTEX®, quite meaningless if Explosia a.s. revenues are considered. Only rework and marking or disposal of rejected plastic explosives out of Czech Army stock is carried out at present in Explosia a.s.

On talks with journalists Explosia a.s. put it many times that SEMTEX® is neither the strongest explosive in the world, nor the non-detectable explosive and last, but not least, nor the only explosive misused by the terrorists. Simple and perhaps also understandable fact, that the producer cannot exclude a misuse of the product after its launching on the market is not usually accepted in case of plastic explosive SEMTEX®.