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Also known as C-4 explosive, composition C-4, C4
variety of plastic explosive
Key facts
- Type
- High-yield chemical explosive
- Place of origin
- United States
- Used by
- United States
- Wars
- Vietnam War , War on terror , 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Produced
- 1956–current
- Variants
- PE-4, M112
- Mass
- 1.25 lb (0.57 kg)
- Length
- 11 in (28 cm)
- Width
- 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Height
- 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
- Filling
- RDX
- Filling weight
- 91%
- Detonation mechanism
- PETN -based detonating cord
- Blast yield
- High
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Eod2.jpg
Show 1 more fact
- Commons category
- C-4 explosive
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~13 min read
Article
C-4 or Composition C-4 is a common variety of the plastic explosive family known as Composition C, which uses RDX as its explosive agent. C-4 is composed of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer to make it malleable, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical. C-4 has a texture similar to modelling clay and can be molded into any desired shape. C-4 is relatively insensitive and can be detonated only by the shock wave from a detonator or blasting cap.
A similar British plastic explosive, also based on RDX but with a plasticizer different from that used in Composition C-4, is known as PE-4 (Plastic Explosive No. 4).