Researchers in China recently detonated a new non-nuclear bomb. It is a hydrogen bomb that generates a sustained fireball of extremely high temperatures. In a controlled field test, China’s hydrogen bomb created a white-hot fireball that burned in excess of 1,000 Celsius for more than two seconds. This is 15 times longer than similar blasts using TNT. The Chinese researchers accomplished this by using magnesium hydride, a powder capable of storing hydrogen far better than pressurized tanks.
How China’s Hydrogen Bomb Works
When the bomb is triggered using explosives, the material inside breaks apart into particles on the scale of microns. This results in the release of hydrogen gas that then combines with air and subsequently ignites, producing a self-sustained combustion loop. This loop is created when the heat from the first explosion triggers further magnesium hydride decomposition. This results in more hydrogen release, which extends the duration of the fireball. China’s hydrogen bomb blast generated 428.43 kilopascals of overpressure at a distance of two meters.
This equals 40% of the force produced by TNT, yet the bomb’s thermal damage radius was far greater than that of conventional explosives. The bomb is capable of producing large-scale destruction that can even melt aluminum alloys. This means that the bomb can be used for precisely neutralizing specific targets or blasting large areas with its intense heat. The researchers were not specific about which scenarios this new technology would be used for. However, the development of China’s hydrogen bomb does align with the country’s move towards cleaner energy solutions.
Beyond its apparent military application as a bomb, this new technology also holds promise for use in other energy system applications, such as for use in drones and submarines. For example, the ability of magnesium hydride to store hydrogen makes it a great candidate for powering submarine fuel cells. Hydrogen storage systems using magnesium hydride could also be used to provide a fuel source to drones, specifically unmanned aerial vehicles. The versatility of this new technology will allow for advances in many fields – a culmination of military and sustainable energy goals.
Breakthroughs In Production
A major player in this breakthrough is the new Chinese magnesium-hydride production plant in Shaanxi. Using the “one-pot synthesis” technique, the facility produces 150 tonnes every year. This is a significant improvement over the mere grams that previous lab-scale efforts had produced per day. Developed by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, this new production method reduces the chances of accidental manufacturing explosions. It is also capable of supporting both civilian and military applications. However, some analysts feel that the technology could be used to play a tactical or psychological role in future potential conflicts involving Taiwan.
They further state that the intense heat the bomb produces could be used to hit urban strongholds or underground defenses. Interestingly, because there are no nuclear materials used in the bomb’s design, it bypasses international nuclear treaty restrictions. Yet, the use of the bomb has raised various legal and humanitarian concerns. This is due to bombs’ similarity to thermobaric weapons that have devastated civilian areas in the past.
The blast of China’s hydrogen bomb is similar to the devastating thermal effects of thermobaric weapons, but with a weaker pressure shockwave. However, the bomb’s ability to melt defenses with precision heat makes it a potential game-changer in urban or underground warfare. This may lead other countries to start exploring similar technologies for both commercial and military uses. Whether this technology will ultimately be used to better mankind or further destroy it will only be revealed with time.
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