Composite Compound 4 facts for kids

Composite Compound 4 (often called C4) is a special kind of plastic explosive. It is often used by the military for different tasks. C4 is very moldable, meaning it can be shaped into almost any form.

C4 is also quite safe to handle. It won't explode from just fire, electricity, or a sudden jolt. For C4 to explode, it needs both a strong force and heat at the same time.

What is C4?

C4 is known as a "plastic" explosive because it feels a bit like clay. This makes it very easy to shape and place exactly where it's needed. Imagine play-doh, but much more powerful! This special feature helps soldiers use it for specific jobs, like clearing paths or removing obstacles.

How C4 Works

Even though C4 is powerful, it's designed to be stable. This means it won't just go off by accident. It needs a special trigger, like a blasting cap, which provides the force and heat needed to make it explode. This careful design helps keep people safe when they are handling it.

Finding C4

Because C4 can be shaped easily, special ingredients are added to it. These ingredients help people find it more easily. Some of these additives have a unique odor (smell). Specially trained dogs can sniff out this smell.

Another common ingredient added to C4 is tiny pieces of metal. These metal bits can be found using metal detectors. This helps security teams and soldiers find C4 if it's hidden or left behind.

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  A soldier gets C4 ready to destroy old ammunition.

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  Putting blasting caps into blocks of C4 explosive.

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  Old bombs ready to be destroyed using M112 demolition charges, which contain C4.