Dynamite
| Dynamite | |
|---|---|
 Preparation of dynamite during the construction of the Douglas Dam, 1942 | |
| Classification | Explosive |
| Industry | Various |
| Application | Explosion |
| Inventor | Alfred Nobel |
| Invented | 1866 |
- Diatomaceous earth (or any other type of absorbent material) soaked in nitroglycerin.
- Protective coating surrounding the explosive material.
- Blasting cap.
- Electrical cable (or fuse) connected to the blasting cap.
Dynamite is an explosive made of nitroglycerin, sorbents (such as powdered shells or clay), and stabilizers. It was invented by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel in 1866 and patented the following year.
Dynamite was the first safely manageable explosive stronger than traditional black powder–based explosives and was widely adopted as a safer and more robust alternative shortly after its introduction. It allows the use of nitroglycerin's favorable explosive properties while greatly reducing its risk of accidental detonation.