Which statement best describes nitroglycerin in water gels?

• A. They contain 0% nitroglycerin
• B. They contain 50% nitroglycerin
• C. They contain nitroglycerin as the primary binder
• D. They do not contain any energetic material at all

Answer: (A)

Water gels are designed to be nitroglycerin-free blasting agents. They achieve their energy from a gelled oxidizer system, typically using ammonium nitrate and a thickening agent, with water as part of the gel. Because nitroglycerin isn’t used in the formulation, these gels contain 0% nitroglycerin. They are still energetic, but the energetic material is provided by the oxidizer and fuel in the gel, not by nitroglycerin. That’s why statements suggesting nitroglycerin is the primary binder or that there’s no energetic material at all don’t fit.