Editing C-4 (explosive) (section)

=== Safety ===
{{Further|Explosives safety|Safety testing of explosives}}

Composition C-4 exists in the U.S. Army Hazardous Components Safety Data Sheet on sheet number 00077.<ref name="TM-9-1300-214">{{citation | url=http://www.lexpev.nl/downloads/tm91300214militaryexplosives.pdf | title=Department of the Army Technical Manual – Military Explosives| author=Headquarters, U.S. Department of the Army | date=25 Sep 1990 | pages=A-13 (323)|postscript=.}}</ref>{{rp|323}} Impact tests done by the U.S. military indicate composition C-4 is less [[Sensitivity (explosives)|sensitive]] than composition C-3 and is fairly insensitive.  The insensitivity is attributed to using a large amount of binder in its composition.  A series of shots were fired at vials containing C-4 in a test referred to as "the rifle bullet test".  Only 20% of the vials burned, and none exploded.  While C-4 passed the Army's bullet impact and fragment impact tests at ambient temperature, it failed the shock stimulus, [[sympathetic detonation]] and [[shaped charge]] jet tests.<ref name="bae" /> Additional tests were done including the "pendulum friction test", which measured a five-second explosion temperature of 263&nbsp;°C to 290&nbsp;°C. The minimum initiating charge required is 0.2&nbsp;grams of [[Lead(II) azide|lead azide]] or 0.1&nbsp;grams of [[tetryl]]. The results of 100&nbsp;°C heat test are: 0.13% loss in the first 48 hours, no loss in the second 48 hours, and no explosions in 100 hours. The vacuum stability test at 100&nbsp;°C yields 0.2 cubic centimeters of gas in 40 hours. Composition C-4 is essentially [[Hygroscopy|nonhygroscopic]].<ref name="armymanual 8-111" />

The [[shock sensitivity]] of C-4 is related to the size of the nitramine particles. The finer they are the better they help to absorb and suppress shock. Using 3-nitrotriazol-5-one (NTO), or [[TATB|1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene]] (TATB) (available in two particle sizes (5&nbsp;μm, 40&nbsp;μm)), as a substitute for RDX, is also able to improve stability to thermal, shock, and impact/friction stimulus; however, TATB is not cost-effective, and NTO is more difficult to use in the manufacturing process.<ref name="bae"/>

{| class="wikitable"
 |+ Sensitivity test values<br />{{nobold|reported by the U.S. Army.<ref name="TM-9-1300-214" />{{rp|311, 314}}}}
 |-
 | '''Impact''' test with 2 kilogram weight / PA APP (% TNT)
 | style="text-align:right;" |>100
 |-
 | '''Impact''' test with 2 kilogram weight / BM APP (% TNT)
 | {{NA}}
 |-
 | '''Pendulum friction''' test, percent explosions
 | style="text-align:right;" |0
 |-
 | '''Rifle bullet''' test, percent explosions
 | style="text-align:right;" |20
 |-
 | '''Explosion temperature''' test, Celsius
 | style="text-align:right;" |263 to 290
 |-
 | Minimum detonating charge, gram of [[lead azide]]
 | style="text-align:right;" |0.2
 |-
 | '''Brisance''' measured by Sand test (% TNT)
 | style="text-align:right;" |116
 |-
 | '''Brisance''' measured by plate dent test
 | style="text-align:right;" |115 to 130
 |-
 | Rate of '''detonation at density'''
 | style="text-align:right;" |1.59
 |-
 | Rate of '''detonation meters per second'''
 | style="text-align:right;" |8000
 |-
 | '''Ballistic pendulum''' test percent
 | style="text-align:right;" |130
 |}