Detasheet
Flexible rubberized explosive
title: "Detasheet" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["explosives", "rubberized-explosives"] description: "Flexible rubberized explosive" topic_path: "general/explosives" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detasheet" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Flexible rubberized explosive ::
Detasheet is a flexible rubberized explosive, somewhat similar to plastic explosives, originally manufactured by DuPont. Its ingredients are PETN with nitrocellulose and a binder. |last=Cooper |first=Paul W. |title=Explosives Engineering |year=1996 |publisher=Wiley-VCH |location=New York |page=57 |chapter=Chapter 4: Use forms of explosives |isbn=0-471-18636-8
Properties
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
A military variant of Detasheet, called Deta Flex, was manufactured in a single thickness (0.25 inch (6.25 mm)) and olive green colored. Deta Flex contains a higher percentage of PETN (70%).
LX-02-1
A version of Deta Flex is manufactured for Department of Energy research purposes, colored blue and manufactured in various thicknesses. LX-02-1 contains 73.5% PETN, 17.6% butyl rubber, 6.9% ATBC, and 2.0% Cab-o-sil.
References
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