Hello, I'm looking into the feasibility of making and using shaped charges around 1mm in diameter under water.  I've been looking into research papers and getting background info, but I was hoping some of you might have some experience or could point me to more appropriate sources of info.

I really enjoyed reading this history of shaped charges:
http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA497450

The questions I'm looking to answer now are:
  1. Is there an explosive that will work at such small scale? I know that combustion is prevented or reduced at small sizes, I don't know if explosives are similar.
  2. What kind of detonator will be small enough and also work underwater?
  3. If I get far enough to where I start testing things, what are the regulations regarding certification for use, storage, etc. of explosives?
  4. Are there other factors I should be considering?

Thanks,
Antonio


   

If you need to ask these questions, you need to get professional help - from those that do this for their day job.  More than that, depending on where you are, there are special licensing requirements for handling and transporting this kind of stuff.

This is not work for hobbyists.

I have had plenty of experience with explosives in heat exchanger work, but the only thing I was qualified to do was blow the horn before they blew the charge(s).

Get in touch with professionals.

Here is a thread with some links:

thread725-282325: Explosive Welding (Tubes to Tubesheet)


rmw

Here is the company in Mississippi that I couldn't remember the name of when I posted in the thread linked above.

http://www.demex.us/

It popped into my head just as I submitted the post above.  Now these guys do this for a day job, and in a big way.

rmw

Thanks for the links.

I am trying to get all the info I can before going too far down this route. I wanted to get enough background to be sure it was worth pursuing before getting an NDA and calling in a consultant.

The tricky part is finding informatin on small explosions.  Everyone seems only interested in building demos and other large scale work.

Don't worry about me being a hobbyist.  This is for my day job, and I'm not planning on even looking at any actual explosives before we dot all the i's and cross all the t's.

Any more info would also be appreciated.