ammonal

ammonal

A miner carefully places a charge of ammonal in the rock face.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • Explosive compound: "ammonal" refers to a type of explosive made from ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder, typically used in mining, quarrying, and military applications. It is known for its high brisance (shattering power) and relative stability compared to some other explosives.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The miners used ammonal to blast through the rock face. (The explosive compound was employed in mining operations.)
    • During the war, ammonal was stockpiled for demolition tasks. (The ammonium nitrate and aluminum mixture was stored for military use.)
Advanced Usage

  • "Ammonal charge": a specific quantity of ammonal prepared for a detonation.

    • The engineers set an ammonal charge under the bridge to demolish it. (A measured amount of the explosive was placed for controlled destruction.)

  • "Ammonal-based explosive": any explosive formulation that primarily uses ammonal as its base component.

    • The team developed an ammonal-based explosive for underwater demolition. (The explosive relied on the ammonium nitrate-aluminum mixture.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Ammonium nitrate (n): a chemical compound (NH₄NO₃) used as a key ingredient in ammonal and fertilizers.

    • Ammonium nitrate is a common oxidizer in industrial explosives. (It provides oxygen for the reaction.)

  • Aluminum powder (n): finely ground aluminum metal, used in ammonal to increase its explosive power.

    • The aluminum powder in ammonal enhances the energy released during detonation. (It contributes to the blast force.)
Synonyms
  • Explosive: a substance that can cause a sudden, violent release of energy.
  • Blasting agent: a material used specifically for rock-breaking or demolition.
Phrasal Verbs

  • Set off: to cause an explosive to detonate.

    • The workers set off the ammonal with a remote trigger. (They initiated the explosion from a safe distance.)

  • Blow up: to destroy something using an explosive.

    • They blew up the old building with ammonal charges. (They demolished the structure using the explosive.)
Related Idioms

  • Blow to smithereens: to destroy something completely into tiny pieces.

    • The ammonal blast blew the boulder to smithereens. (The explosion shattered the rock into fragments.)

  • Go off with a bang: to explode loudly and dramatically.

    • The ammonal charge went off with a bang, echoing through the valley. (The detonation was loud and powerful.)