As I read about spectacular explosions in LENR experiments - that appear to have explosive energy beyond available chemical means - I recall something I read in a book that may be somewhat obscure to this forum. In Robert Hazen's book, "the Diamond makers", he describes the history of high temperature high pressure research and the quest to create synthetic diamonds. The need for diamonds was primarily for machine cutting tools and abrasives. In the later stages of diamond making equipment development, a high temperature (1000C) and high pressure (100,000-150,000 atmospheres) press was developed called "the belt" (Tracy Hall, ~1954). This machine consists of a toroidal "belt" having a parabolic cross-section and tungsten carbide anvils pressing into the middle. This machine would ultimately go on to become the primary means of producing industrial diamond.
During development of the process for transforming graphite into diamond, it was suggested by George Kennedy that hydrogen would be a catalyst for diamond crystal growth (it is). The book includes this recount from an interview with Herbert Strong: "Strong decided to add not just a little hydrogen, but a huge amount in the form a chunk of polyethylene plastic, which averages two hydrogen atoms for every one of hydrogen. At conditions of diamond formation, Strong was to learn, polyethylene breaks down to form carbon and hydrogen - lots of hydrogen." ... "The belt apparatus blew up during Strong's very first attempt. With a deafening detonation and impact that shook the entire knoll research complex ..." ... "Shrapnel sprayed out across the room and ricocheted off the walls and ceiling." To me, this sounds like more energy than could have been released by chemical reaction from a small "chunk of polyethylene". Could this have been a LENR explosion? Interestingly, the successful diamond making process included compressing the graphite in molten nickel at high pressure.
