What defines a high explosive?

A high explosive is defined by its ability to sustain detonation, which means that it can produce a shock wave that travels through the material at a speed greater than the speed of sound in that material. This characteristic distinguishes high explosives from other types of explosives. High explosives can rapidly convert chemical energy into explosive energy, resulting in a very intense and destructive explosion.

In contrast, materials with an explosion velocity less than 1000 meters per second are generally classified as low explosives, which do not have the same explosive properties as high explosives. The properties of burning rapidly without producing a detonation or reacting slowly with heat are characteristic of combustion processes rather than detonation. These materials do not meet the criteria that define a high explosive. Thus, the ability to sustain detonation is fundamental to the classification of a material as a high explosive.