Investigation of sensitivity of fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate to explosion.

In order to determine the probable cause and mechanism of the explosion of cargoes of fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate on shipboard at Texas City, Texas, on 16 and 17 April 1947, an investigation was made of the materials involved, possible contaminants, and the possibility of converting combustion of the bagged nitrate and pater or wood into a detonation. It was found that the combustion of nitrate and paper or wood can produce gaseous products which can undergo explosion and in turn initiate the explosion of unconsumed nitrate fertilizer. A hypothesis of the mechanism of the Texas City disaster was established on this basis.