Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
8715896 
Journal Article 
Forensic characteristics of organic peroxide explosives (TATP, DADP and HMTD) 
Mckay, GJ 
2002 
63 
6 SPEC. 
323-329 
English 
Triacetone triperoxide (TATP), diacetone diperoxide (DADP) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD) are sensitive and powerful organic peroxide explosives. They have been encountered by the UK Police, both in terrorist and non-terrorist cases. Initially, in response to the recovery of a substantial quantity of TATP in the UK, it was found that there was a lack of reliable chemical, explosive and analytical data on organic peroxide explosives. Since then, extensive research has been carried out by PEL in order to build up a detailed forensic knowledge of these materials. A systematic study of the physical and chemical properties of these explosives along with methods for qualitative analysis and detection has been undertaken. The research carried out by FEL has found TATP, DADP and HMTD to be powerful primary explosives. They can be prepared in the home from readily available raw materials, although their sensitivity to accidental initiation makes them extremely hazardous materials to handle. Information on their synthesis and properties has been published and is available on the Internet. They exist as white solids which burn rapidly or instantaneously when exposed to a naked flame. Analytical techniques including FT-IR, TLC, GC/MS and LC/MS can be used for their forensic analysis and identification. FEL has also developed a low-hazard TATP training aid for UK Police explosive search dogs.