Hey guys, first post in BB although I've been lurking long enough...
Anyway, I was reading through the Ordnance Corps website and it says that PETN is an auxiliary explosive. I was under the impression that it could also be a main charge that needed a primer and possibly a booster. If it's an auxiliary, does that mean it has low enough sensitivity to only need a primer, and is it used as the main blasting agent in cases?

myself and others have used just PETN as a main charge with a cap thou generally speaking petn is used in detcords

Ah, cool thanks.

PETN is not safe enough for the army but it is safe enough for us.

PETN is the main (highest %) mass in semtex, but I do suppose that the hexogen would be considered the "main" explosive, and the PETN to be "just" the auxilliary.

PETN is the main (highest %) mass in semtex, but I do suppose that the hexogen would be considered the "main" explosive, and the PETN to be "just" the auxilliary.

So technically it is more of a booster, but it can be used as a primary charge?

It's one of those "sensitive" secondaries.

Just like nitroglycerin, enough of a blast (LE cap) *can* initiate a detonation, but not reliably so.
At least, that is what I'v read, no actual experience with stuff.

PETN is a good explosive. It is easily detonated. If you have a good flashpowder firecracker, open the end of a tube, oposite to fuse with the match comp on it & insert a piece of the detcord or a thinner tube with pressed PETN in it. Tape it to the firecracker, so it does not fly off. And, when firecracker explodes it will detonate PETN. Some people say it is not reliable - but for me it never failed....at least with Austrian Pirat II firecracker.