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Primacord is a brand of detonating cord used in blasting. It was developed in 1936 by the Ensign-Bickford Company.[1] Ensign-Bickford sold their registered trademark for Primacord to Dyno Nobel in 2003.[2] which manufactures it in their Graham, Kentucky factory.[citation needed] The name is also used as a genericized trademark for any detonating cord.[citation needed]
Primacord consists of a continuous core of PETN, RDX or other high explosive, bound by textile yarns and finished with plastic and wax as waterproofing agents.[3] It is produced in eight strengths:
| Name | Loading g/m (gr/ft) | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| Primacord 1 | 1.5 (7.5) | Yellow |
| Primacord 2 | 2.1 (10) | Orange |
| Primacord 3 | 3.2 (15) | Red |
| Primacord 4Y | 3.6 (18) | Yellow |
| Primacord 4R | 3.6 (18) | Red |
| Primacord 5 | 5.3 (25) | Red |
| Primacord 8 | 8.6 (40) | Red |
| Primacord 10 | 10.6 (50) | Yellow |
Primaline is a related product differing principally in having a plastic jacket instead of textile. Primaline is also available in higher loadings, up to 85 g/m (400 gr/ft):
| Name | Loading g/m (gr/ft) | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| Primaline 4D | 3.6 (18) | Orange |
| Primaline 4HS | 3.6 (18) | Clear with blue stripe |
| Primaline 5 | 5.3 (25) | Orange with wax coating |
| Primaline 5D | 5.3 (25) | Orange |
| Primaline 5NF | 5.3 (25) | Yellow |
| Primaline 8D | 8.6 (40) | Orange |
| Primaline 8HS | 8.6 (40) | Clear with black stripe |
| Primaline 10HS | 10.6 (50) | Clear with red stripe |
| Primaline 21 | 21.3 (100) | Clear |
| Primaline 32 | 31.9 (150) | Clear |
| Primaline 42 | 42.5 (200) | Clear |
| Primaline 85 | 85 (400) | Light green |
Primacord is initiated with a blasting cap or by a donor line of detonating cord or other high explosive. It detonates along its entire length at a velocity of approximately 23,000 feet (7,000 meters) per second. It is used to create explosive effects and to build reliable explosive charges. It is used in conjunction with other high explosive materials to form charges, including linear charges, capable of near instantaneous results.[3]
