Primacord is a brand of detonating cord used in blasting. It was developed in 1936 by the Ensign-Bickford Company. Ensign-Bickford sold their registered trademark for Primacord to Dyno Nobel in 2003. which manufactures it in their Graham, Kentucky factory. The name is also used as a genericized trademark for any detonating cord.
Description Primacord consists of a continuous core of PETN, RDX or other high explosive, bound by textile yarns and finished with plastic and wax as waterproofing agents. It is produced in eight strengths:
Name Loading g/m (gr/ft) Colour Primacord 1 1.5 (7.5) Yellow Primacord 2 2.1 (10) Orange Primacord 3 3.2 (15) Red Primacord 4Y 3.6 (18) Yellow Primacord 4R 3.6 (18) Red Primacord 5 5.3 (25) Red Primacord 8 8.6 (40) Red Primacord 10 10.6 (50) Yellow
Primaline is a related product differing principally in having a plastic jacket instead of textile. Primaline is also available in higher loadings, up to 85 g/m (400 gr/ft):
Name Loading g/m (gr/ft) Colour Primaline 4D 3.6 (18) Orange Primaline 4HS 3.6 (18) Clear with blue stripe Primaline 5 5.3 (25) Orange with wax coating Primaline 5D 5.3 (25) Orange Primaline 5NF 5.3 (25) Yellow Primaline 8D 8.6 (40) Orange Primaline 8HS 8.6 (40) Clear with black stripe Primaline 10HS 10.6 (50) Clear with red stripe Primaline 21 21.3 (100) Clear Primaline 32 31.9 (150) Clear Primaline 42 42.5 (200) Clear Primaline 85 85 (400) Light green
Operation Primacord is initiated with a blasting cap or by a donor line of detonating cord or other high explosive. It detonates along its entire length at a velocity of approximately per second. It is used to create explosive effects and to build reliable explosive charges. It is used in conjunction with other high explosive materials to form charges, including linear charges, capable of near instantaneous results.
See also Cordtex
References