Shock Tube Systems | All About Shock Tube

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All About Shock Tube

Shock Tube is a hollow plastic tubing, typically with a 1 mm inside diameter and a 3 mm outside diameter. The tubing is loaded with a tiny dusting of explosive powder. When initiated the explosive powder combusts and propagates down the tube at a rate of 6500 feet per second. Such a small amount of powder is used that the explosive effects are contained within the tube, the tube does not burst open. Thus the shock tube is used to convey a signal. When this signal reaches certain points along the tube it is converted into usefull work such as initiating a delay or an instant blasting cap, igniting a gas generator, pushing a piston, etc.

Shock tube has replaced electric detonators and blasting caps for many applications because it is far less sensitive to many of the effects of static electricity and radio frequency energy that can cause premature initiation of electric initiators.

It has been estimated that over 2 billion feet of shock tube are used each year worldwide. Shock tube is used in commercial blasting, military demolition, special effects, automobile airbags, aircraft escape systems and professional fireworks to name a few. New applications are developing almost every day for this amazing product.

For detailed information about shock tube, follow the links to your left to "All About Shock Tube" and "Electric v. Non-Electric"