It was manufactured in thin flexible sheets with a rubbery texture, technically known as a
rubberized explosive and is generally colored either reddish/orange (commercial) or green (military). In use, it is typically cut to shape for precision
engineering charges. Compared to other explosives detasheet is very stable. It is detonated with a
blasting cap or
primer cord but not by
small-arms fire, heat, water, pressure, or concussion. Detasheet is relatively expensive compared to other explosives.
Ingredients Detasheet C, the last and most common version produced, was made up of 63% PETN, 8% nitrocellulose, and 29%
acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), an organic
plasticizer.
Production status DuPont ceased manufacturing explosives in the 1990s and when they did the Ensign-Bickford Aerospace and Defense Company bought their product line, including all their equipment and trademarks. The Detasheet trademark is now owned by the
Ensign-Bickford Aerospace and Defense Company, which has been selling an identical explosive sheet product called
Primasheet since 1984. Primasheet-1000 and Detasheet are identical and when purchased the packaging contains both trademarks. == Deta Flex ==