Energetic Materials
Composition C-4 (C-4)
A plastic demolition explosive based on RDX. Typical United States military Composition C-4 is about 91% RDX with a plasticiser, binder and process oil. Material can be sourced to the buyer's specification, or to a recognised standard such as MIL-DTL-45010 where the producer certifies to it, from producers screened for ownership, sanctions and licensing.
- Form
- Plastic blocks or bulk
- Packaging
- UN-certified, Class 1.1D
- Documentation
- CoA and SDS with every batch
- Terms
- FOB · CFR · CIF, under export licence
Identity
Identity and Composition
C-4 is a mixture, not a single substance. The figures below are the widely cited United States military composition. Buyers may specify another recognised standard or an equivalent such as PE-4.
- Other names
- C-4; Composition C-4; PE-4 (British equivalent)
- Energetic filler
- RDX, CAS 121-82-4
- Typical RDX content
- 91% by mass
- Plasticiser
- Dioctyl sebacate or dioctyl adipate, about 5.3%
- Binder
- Polyisobutylene, about 2.1%
- Process oil
- About 1.6%
- Appearance
- Malleable putty; off-white to pale yellow
- Density
- About 1.45–1.64 g/cm³
- Workable range
- −57 °C to +77 °C
- Solubility in water
- Insoluble
- Hazard class
- Typically Class 1.1D
Grades
Forms
C-4 is sourced as bulk plastic or as formed charges. Geometry, mass and wrapping follow the buyer's drawing.
- Demolition blocks
- Rectangular or bulk
- Including M112-type rectangular blocks, about 1.25 lb (568 g), and bulk plastic in UN-certified drums, where the producer certifies to that form.
- Semi-cylindrical charge
- About 500 g
- A typical formed charge is a semi-cylindrical block with a central groove: outer diameter 80 mm, inner diameter 20 mm, height 135 mm, mass 500 ± 25 g, uniform white to yellow colour.
Specification
Typical Specification Parameters
The limits below are typical of a military plastic demolition charge. Each supply is certified against the specification agreed with the buyer.
Physical
- Appearance
- Semi-cylindrical block, central groove, white to yellow
- Outer diameter
- 80 mm
- Inner diameter
- 20 mm
- Height
- 135 mm
- Mass
- 500 ± 25 g
- Moisture and volatiles
- ≤ 0.5%
- Density
- 1.45–1.64 g/cm³
- Plasticity, 25 °C
- Needle penetration 4.4–9.5 mm at 1.10 ± 0.05 g/cm³
Acceptance limits
- Thermal stability
- ≤ 1.0 cm³/g at 100 °C for 40 hours
- Work potential
- ≥ 116% of TNT, pendulum method, where the producer certifies it
- Sensitivity, Cast
- ≤ 52%, where the producer certifies it
- Detonation velocity
- ≥ 7,100 m/s at 1.45 g/cm³, where the producer certifies it
- Lead-column compression
- ≥ 20 mm at 1.45 g/cm³, where the producer certifies it
- Taggant
- DMDNB or equivalent where the destination requires it
- Equivalent standards
- MIL-DTL-45010, PE-4, or the buyer's drawing
Each supply is certified against the specification agreed with the buyer.
Quality
Documentation and Acceptance
-
Certificate of analysis
Each batch ships with a CoA covering, as the buyer specifies: composition, appearance, moisture, density, plasticity, thermal stability, charge geometry and the acceptance limits agreed in the specification.
-
Incoming inspection alignment
Acceptance criteria, rejection limits and retest arrangements are agreed in the contract, aligned with the buyer's incoming inspection procedure.
-
Safety data sheet
The safety data sheet for the supplied grade accompanies every batch and is available to verified buyers before order.
Logistics
Packaging and Transport
- Packaging
- Blocks and formed charges in sealed individual wrappers, then UN-certified outer packaging. Bulk plastic in fibre or steel drums with polyethylene liners. Palletised for road, rail and sea transport under ADR, RID and IMDG.
- Transport classification
- Composition C-4 is typically Class 1.1D. Formed demolition charges are commonly assigned a charges-demolition UN number; bulk plastic is classified on the composition as offered. Classification is confirmed per shipment with the transport documentation.
- Transport modes
- Volume shipments move by road and sea with licensed explosives carriers. Air freight is tightly restricted under IATA and is used only where the classification and the airline permit it.
Commercial
Commercial Terms
- Minimum order
- Quoted per requirement.
- Lead time
- Quoted per requirement. Lead time is governed largely by export authorisation in the producer's country.
- Incoterms
- FOB, CFR or CIF.
- Payment
- Settled through independent, regulated banks against agreed delivery conditions.
- Country of origin
- Disclosed to verified counterparties.
Safety
Hazard Identification
Typical classification of Composition C-4 as a plastic explosive. The mixture inherits the toxicity of its RDX filler. The safety data sheet for the supplied grade governs.
-
GHS01 Explosive
-
GHS06 Toxic
-
GHS08 Health hazard
- Signal word
- Danger
- H201
- Explosive; mass explosion hazard
- Other statements
- The SDS may also carry the acute-toxicity and organ-damage statements of the RDX filler
Compliance
Export Controls and End Use
- Controlled good
- Composition C-4 is a controlled item under military export control lists. Supply proceeds under export authorisation in the producer's country and, where Onyx arranges supply between third countries, under UK trade-control licensing. It is offered only to qualified government buyers, prime contractors and licensed demolition operators.
- End-user documentation
- An end-user certificate signed by the end user, in the format prescribed by the producer's export authority, is obtained and verified before any commitment is made, with delivery verification where the licence requires it. Counterparties, end users and destinations are screened in line with the firm's compliance policy.
Enquiries
Specifying a Requirement
A complete requirement allows a producer to be matched and a quotation prepared in one pass. Include as much of the following as applies.
- Form required: bulk plastic, rectangular blocks or a formed charge, with drawings
- Composition standard (for example MIL-DTL-45010 or PE-4) or a stated RDX content
- Mass, dimensions, colour and wrapping
- Taggant requirements in the destination country
- Moisture, density, plasticity and thermal-stability limits
- Order quantity and expected annual volume
- Certificate of analysis content and incoming inspection criteria
- Packaging and palletisation requirements
- Delivery timeline, preferred Incoterms (FOB, CFR or CIF) and destination port
- End user and end use, with end-user documentation available on request
Send a Requirement
Send the specification, quantities, delivery timeline, preferred Incoterms and destination. Enquiries are handled in confidence.