What does ammonal mean?
Ammonal is an explosive material composed primarily of ammonium nitrate, powdered aluminium, and trinitrotoluene (TNT). The combination was prized because each component contributes something distinct: the ammonium nitrate supplies bulk oxidizer, the aluminium intensifies the heat and overall energy of the blast, and the TNT provides reliable detonation. The result is a powerful, brisant explosive well suited to demolition, quarrying, and military engineering tasks such as cratering and the destruction of fortifications. Ammonal saw notable use during the First World War, when combatant armies employed it in large-scale mine warfare beneath enemy trenches. Today the word survives mainly in technical, historical, and military contexts, appearing in engineering texts and accounts of twentieth-century warfare rather than in ordinary speech. Because it refers to a specific formulation rather than explosives generally, it should not be treated as a generic synonym for dynamite or other blast agents.
nounAn explosive mixture consisting chiefly of ammonium nitrate, aluminium powder, and trinitrotoluene (TNT), valued for its high brisance and used especially in military demolition and mining.
- An explosive composition of ammonium nitrate, aluminium powder, and TNT, used in blasting and military demolition.
"The sappers packed the tunnel beneath the ridge with ammonal charges before detonation."
"The miners loaded the borehole with ammonal before firing the shot."
"Engineers during the First World War relied on ammonal for large-scale demolition work."
As a countable noun referring to batches or types of the explosive; rarely needed since the term usually denotes a single standard formulation.
"Several different ammonals were tested for brisance."
Ammonal's aluminium dust doesn't just burn — it dramatically boosts the blast, which is why this blend became a go-to charge for military engineers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ammonal
The name ammonal is a blend built on 'ammonium', the root of which traces back through 'ammonia' to sal ammoniac, long obtained near the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Libya — hence the element's ancient association with the god Ammon. The '-al' portion reflects its aluminium component. The word arose in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century as commercial and military explosives were being formulated around ammonium nitrate.
How ammonal is actually used
A technical term encountered mainly in military history, mining engineering, and explosives literature rather than everyday conversation; it carries strongly industrial and martial connotations.
Easily confused with ammonal
Ammonium is a positively charged nitrogen–hydrogen ion found in fertilizers and salts, whereas ammonal is an explosive compound mixture that contains an ammonium salt as one of its ingredients.
ANFO is a simpler blasting mixture of only ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, while ammonal also includes aluminium powder and TNT for greater power.