Standard Practice for Characterization and Classification of Smokeless Powder

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This practice establishes guidelines for the characterization of smokeless powder which can be used as an explosive for improvised explosive devices or as a propellant, such as for small arms ammunition and for military ordnance.  
5.2 This practice establishes the minimum criteria necessary to classify smokeless powders.  
5.3 The morphology of smokeless powder is a distinct characteristic used for classification and identification purposes.  
5.4 The identification of a questioned sample as smokeless powder (that is, it is a propellant or low explosive) does not require the identification of chemical components of a smokeless powder other than nitrocellulose.  
5.5 Identification of organic compounds associated with smokeless powders is a requirement to classify a smokeless powder sample as single-base, double-base, or triple-base.  
5.6 Additional analytical techniques may be available that are not mentioned within this document that are acceptable for the characterization and analysis of smokeless powders.  
5.7 The requirements to associate a questioned smokeless powder to a unique smokeless powder product by brand name or intercomparison of two or more questioned powders are beyond the scope of this document (13-15).  
5.8 The identification of smokeless powder residue in the absence of whole or partial grains is beyond the scope of this document.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes procedures for characterization and analysis of smokeless powders recovered from explosives incidents (1, 2),2 materials or objects containing gunshot residue (3) when visible grains are present, or bulk samples of powder.  
1.2 Smokeless powder is characterized by shape, color, texture, manufacturing toolmarks, markers, dimensional measurements, and chemical composition (4-6).  
1.3 Smokeless powder is an energetic material classified as a low explosive or propellant. Smokeless powder can be further classified as single-base, double-base, or triple-base.  
1.4 Analysis of post-blast debris and items containing gunshot residue when visible grains of smokeless powder are not present is beyond the scope of this practice.  
1.5 This practice will provide guidelines for the analysis of organic components of smokeless powders using various instrumental techniques, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 This standard involves handling of low explosives and potentially other energetic materials. It is strongly suggested that an analyst be trained in the storage and safe handling of energetic materials and be familiar with the properties and hazards of explosives.  
1.8 This standard cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and should be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment.  
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
30-Sep-2016
Technical Committee
Drafting Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:E2998 −16 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
1
Characterization and Classification of Smokeless Powder
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2998; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This practice describes procedures for characterization
and analysis of smokeless powders recovered from explosives
2 2. Referenced Documents
incidents (1, 2), materials or objects containing gunshot
3
residue (3) when visible grains are present, or bulk samples of 2.1 ASTM Standards:
powder. E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Tech-
nical Experts
1.2 Smokeless powder is characterized by shape, color,
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
texture, manufacturing toolmarks, markers, dimensional
Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
measurements, and chemical composition (4-6).
E1618 TestMethodforIgnitableLiquidResiduesinExtracts
1.3 Smokeless powder is an energetic material classified as
from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass
a low explosive or propellant. Smokeless powder can be
Spectrometry
further classified as single-base, double-base, or triple-base.
3. Terminology
1.4 Analysis of post-blast debris and items containing gun-
shot residue when visible grains of smokeless powder are not
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
present is beyond the scope of this practice.
3.1.1 ball powders, n—a class of smokeless powders pro-
1.5 This practice will provide guidelines for the analysis of duced by a process where the final grain morphologies are
spherical, flattened-ball, or flake.
organic components of smokeless powders using various
instrumental techniques, such as gas chromatography-mass
3.1.2 double-base, n—propellant containing nitrocellulose
spectrometry, liquid chromatography, and Fourier transform
and nitroglycerin.
infrared spectroscopy.
3.1.3 deterrent, n—a compound to slow the burning rate of
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
a powder.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.1.4 energetic, n—an explosive compound used to enhance
standard.
the burning rate of a powder.
1.7 This standard involves handling of low explosives and
3.1.5 extruded powders, n—a class of smokeless powders
potentially other energetic materials. It is strongly suggested
produced by an extrusion process where the final grain
that an analyst be trained in the storage and safe handling of
morphologies are disc or cylinder.
energetic materials and be familiar with the properties and
3.1.6 grain, n—an individual particle of smokeless powder.
hazards of explosives.
3.1.7 marker, n—a colored grain of smokeless powder to
1.8 This standard cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability
assist in the visual identification of a bulk reloading smokeless
acquired through appropriate education, training, and experi-
powder.
ence and should be used in conjunction with sound profes-
sional judgment.
3.1.8 perforation, n—aholeinadiscpowderoroneormore
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
holes running through the length of a cylinder powder created
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
during the manufacturing process in extruded powders.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.9 single-base, n—propellant containing nitrocellulose as
the major energetic material.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
3
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2016. Published October 2016. DOI: 10.1520/ For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
E2998-16. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
this standard. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E2998−16
3.1.10 smokeless powder, n—apropellantandlowexplosive 6. Apparatus
composed of nitrocellulose and other organic and inorganic
6.1 Ste
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