Hochsprengende

Hochsprengende, or high explosives, are energetic materials that detonate rather than burn. They produce a shock wave and a rapid release of energy when initiated. Detonation velocities are typically well above 1,000 meters per second, and the resulting blast and overpressure are the primary effects. High explosives are usually less sensitive to friction than primary explosives and require a detonator or booster to initiate, whereas low explosives deflagrate and propagate a flame front.

Typical examples include trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX), and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). Mixtures such as Composition B or Octol combine different HE components to tailor performance. Some high explosives are formulated into plastics, giving plastic explosives that are malleable and easier to shape. High explosives are widely used in mining and quarrying for rock blasting, in demolition, and in military applications such as warhead fill and shaped charges. Their use is subject to strict safety, handling, and regulatory regimes.

Historically, the term gained prominence in the late 19th and 20th centuries with the development of TNT, dynamite, and later synthetic nitrates. Alfred Nobel's innovations revolutionized mining, construction, and military ordnance. In modern practice, high explosives are classified and regulated to reduce the risk of accidental detonation and environmental harm. Safety standards cover manufacturing, transport, storage, and handling, with separate categories for highly sensitive primaries used to initiate detonators and less sensitive secondaries that form the main charge.