dynamite

Dynamite is an explosive material consisting of nitroglycerin absorbed in an inert porous medium, typically kieselguhr (diatomaceous earth), forming a stable, pliable mass. The absorption reduces the sensitivity of the liquid nitroglycerin, making it easier to handle and transport than pure nitroglycerin.

The substance was invented by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel in 1867. Nobel developed a method to stabilize nitroglycerin by absorbing it into a solid substrate and packaging the resulting paste into sticks. Dynamite quickly became widely used in mining, quarrying, construction, and demolition, enabling large-scale blasting and infrastructure development. Nobel’s innovation helped spur the growth of an explosives industry, and the name became associated with his business ventures, including the firm Dynamit Nobel.

Nitroglycerin, the active explosive chemical, is glyceryl trinitrate. In dynamite, it is held within a porous solid to impede flow and reduce sensitivity. Modern formulations may include stabilizers and various fillers, and dynamite is typically used with blasting caps and detonators to produce controlled charges.

Dynamite remains hazardous due to the intrinsic sensitivity of nitroglycerin to heat, shock, and friction; although absorption reduces risk, improper handling, storage in hot or damp conditions, or mechanical shock can still cause detonation. Because of safety concerns and the development of alternative blasting technologies, dynamite has largely been supplanted in many applications by safer or more stable explosives such as ANFO and emulsions, though it remains in use in some regions and in historical contexts.