ABSTRACT
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) or Penta or Ten, is a white crystalline explosive used as a base charge in blasting caps and detonators, as the core explosive in commercial detonating cord, and in sheet explosives. It is mixed in various proportions with TNT to form the less sensitive pentolites.1 How ever, it is also mixed with RDX as a plastic bonded explosive to form the powerful Semtex.
