Customer Reviews

The Preparatory Manual of Explosives, Third Edition

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Preparatory Manual of Explosives is your one-stop for high quality explosives data and information. The book is full of excellent and detailed laboratory procedures for the preparation of over 160 of the worlds most widely used explosives. No other book that I know can compare to the exhaustive detail this book has. The book's chapters are arranged in specific order to give the reader a full description of the chemistry of explosives, laboratory techniques, reagents and solvents, intermediates, and explosives dynamics. Also, the book is very easy to understand, and was specifically designed for both chemists and non-chemists. The Preparatory Manual of Explosives is by far the best explosives book available, and I would recommend you checkout the authors other books, all of which contain exhaustive and precise information for every ones book collection. A super must have book for the chemist, non-chemist, amateur, pyrotechnician, and anyone with
just a curiosity to know.

Ok, it is encyclopedic in scope, there are thousands of compounds detailed here. My problem is that it's filled with instructions similar to this: now mix 300 grams of unicorn horn, prepared in the usual manner, with 15 grams of finely divided unobtainium, being careful not to defenestrate the mixture.
It is an interesting read, but most folks could lay hands on materials to mix up maybe five percent of the compounds listed, max. If you're a chemist this is a great book.

This is an excellent reference text for organic chemists interested in the theoretical synthesis of energetic materials

While much more technical than I anticipated I have found it a fascinating read. If there is one frustration it is because I have so little knowledge and understanding of chemistry. Nonetheless, my interest and curiosity have spurred me on to a general appreciation of this topic.

The manual describes details of synthetic procedure of over hundred of the explosives. If they are the specialists who studied organic chemistry and trained organic chemistry experiments, they can reproduce the manual correctly. However, the experiments must be carried out in appropriate facilities, and non-specialist must not attempt to prepare these materials. It is regretful that qualities of figures and structure of the materials are poor and there are some mistakes in these structures.

An interesting book. Tells you how to make practally every explosive known. In most cases the ingredents are not obtainable and/or are dangerous to use. Having made many of these materials (50 years ago) when I was an "energenic materials" chemist I was interested how the field has progressed. Nothing better than PETN, RDX and HMX has come along. I warn DYI's don't try to use this book to make anything. You will just injure or kill yourself. There are several word errors in the book (incorrect words used), where a spelling checker will not find the error.

If you've taken organic chemistry and organic chemistry labs, you will find yourself quite familiar with the techniques and equipment used in this book. An interesting read for those with enough chemistry background to fully appreciate it. For all others, prepare to do a little extra research.

has all the lab procedures you could ask for. thorough explanations and descriptions. Good for scientists, but may be a little complex for the laymen.

A great follow up to the 2nd edition which I have. The 3rd edition is expanded and has many new additions.

This manual was a significant disappointment. While contains a good deal of technical information within it's pages, it is laid out in a manner that makes it difficult to access. There is no index that would allow you to look up subjects and it is generally difficult to locate specific info within the pages. Not the book I first grab off the shelf, it is also The Preparatory Manual of Explosives, Third Editionnot inexpensive and I would not recommend it to anyone.