Reaction Between Aluminum and Ammonium Nitrate (Tannerite)

[Legoman2179]

Hi, I am doing a project on a mixture of Aluminum and Ammonium Nitrate. When you mix these together it makes an explosive, which will only go off when you shoot it with a rifle.

 

I have a few questions regarding what happens between the two.

 

1. What makes the aluminum a catalyst

2. Is the ammonium nitrate detonating?

3. From what I've read, the aluminum acts as a catalyst and makes a lower energy pathway for detonation. The aluminum makes the the ammonium nitrate unstable. Is this correct?

4. Does the aluminum make a small detonation when under high pressure or is impacted very hard?

 

If this is totally wrong feel free to tell me what is going on in the mixture.

 

Thanks.