Dense Inert Metal Explosive
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Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME) is an experimental type of explosive that has a relatively small but effective blast radius. It is manufactured by producing a homogenous mixture of an explosive material (such as HMX or RDX) and small particles of a chemically inert material such as tungsten. It is intended to limit the distance at which the explosion causes damage, to avoid collateral damage in warfare.
The phrase 'inert metal' refers to the metal's non-involvement in producing the blast energy by chemical involvement in the explosion detonation reaction (as opposed to, for example using, aluminium powder to increase blast strength), rather than the metal being biologically inert. An emerging criticism of DIME weapons is that the tungsten metal filler may turn out to have unexpected strong biological effects in those who are hit by the micro-shrapnel from DIME explosions.
DIME explosive mixtures have been studied for some time,[1] but apparently only began to be adopted for weapons after the year 2000.
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[edit] Method of Operation
DIME weapons consist of a carbon fiber casing filled with mixture of explosive and a very dense powder of a heavy metal tungsten alloy (HMTA) composed of tungsten and other metals such as cobalt and nickel or iron.
Two common HMTA alloys are:
-
- rWNiCo: tungsten (91-93%), nickel (3-5%) and cobalt (2-4%)
- rWNiFe: tungsten (91-93%), nickel (3-5%) and iron (2-4%)
Upon detonation of the explosive, the casing disintegrates into extremely small particles (vs. the shrapnel which results from the fragmentation of a metal shell casing). The HMTA powder acts as micro-shrapnel which is very lethal at close range (~4 meters or 13.1 feet), but loses momentum very quickly due to air resistance, coming to a halt within approximately 40x the diameter of the charge. This increases the probability of killing people within a few meters of the explosion while reducing the probability of causing death and injures or damage further away. Survivors close to the lethal zone may have their limbs amputated (as the micro shrapnel can slice through soft tissue and bone) and may subsequently contract cancer (rhabdomyosarcoma) from the HMTA micro-shrapnel embedded in their body tissue.[2]
Although the relatively small radius of destruction reduces the area over which casualties may occur, the increased lethality close to the point of explosion and use in urban areas may actually increase the number of unintended casualties (so-called "collateral damage"). Additionally, the toxic and carcinogenic effects of the HMTA may cause increased deaths in those who survive the initial blast or in people who inhale the dust.
[edit] Toxic/Carcinogenic Effects
The carcinogenic effects of heavy metal tungsten alloys (HMTA) have been studied by the U.S. Armed Forces since at least 2000 (along with depleted uranium (DU)). These alloys were found to cause neoplastic transformations of human osteoblast cells[3].
A more recent U.S. Department of Health study in 2005 found that HMTA shrapnel rapidly induces rhabdomyosarcoma cancers in rats.[4]
The tungsten alloy carcinogenicity may be most closely related to the nickel content of the alloys used in weapons to date. However, pure Tungsten and Tungsten Trioxide are also suspected of causing cancer and other toxic properties, and have been shown to have such effects in animal studies. [5]
[edit] Reported Use
As reported in the French national newspaper Le Monde, according to a team of journalists from the Italian State radio-television RAI, DIME-type bombs were being used in the Gaza strip by the IDF against Palestinians during July/August 2006. The investigation was performed by analysing samples of metals found in the victim's bodies and examining the unusual wounds.[6] Israel denied possessing or using such weapons.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Cooper, Paul W. Explosives Engineering. New York: Wiley-VCH, 1996. ISBN 0-471-18636-8.
- ^ Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME) at globalsecurity.org
- ^ Neoplastic transformation of human osteoblast cells to the tumorigenic phenotype by heavy metal–tungsten alloy particles: induction of genotoxic effects in Carcinogenesis, Vol. 22, No. 1, 115-125, January 2001
- ^ Embedded Weapons-Grade Tungsten Alloy Shrapnel Rapidly Induces Metastatic High Grade Rhabdomyosarcomas in F344 Rats by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- ^ [1] Tungsten and Selected Tungsten Compounds - Review of Toxicological Literature
- ^ LeMonde.fr : Tsahal utiliserait à Gaza un nouveau type d'armes, le DIME américain
- ^ Gaza doctors say patients suffering mystery injuries after Israeli attacks, The Guardian. October 17, 2006.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME)
- [2]
- How Goes the War From Here? Small diameter solutions SF Chronicle, September 12, 2006
- Italian probe: Israel used new weapon prototype in Gaza Strip by Meron Rapoport, Haaretz, October 11, 2006
- Cancer worries for new U.S. bombs by Defense Tech
- Gaza doctors say patients suffering mystery injuries after Israeli attacks by The Guardian, England, October 17, 2006
- Example of what effect DIME has on the human body. Site is in Italian. WARNING: EXPLICIT PICTURES
- Israel Tests New Lethal, Cancer-Causing Tungsten Bomb in Gaza, Tikun Olam
