In the story below, I doubt that the "chunk" of polyethylene was bigger than a 1 cm cube. Presume for the moment that Strong used HDPE, having a density of 0.94g/cm^3. This would mean that the cube weighed about 0.94g. With two H (atomic mass 1) for each C (atomic mass 12), the the cube would be 2/14=1/7 hydrogen, so this cube would contain about 0.13g of hydrogen. What could 0.13g of hydrogen combine with chemically that could cause an explosion of such magnitude?
The tungsten carbide anvils were probably "cemented" and may have been full of nano-cracks. The common gasket was wonderstone powder - an AlSiMag ceramic powder blend - probably also full of nano-cracks when compressed under such force. Could a high rate LENR have caused the explosion that tore the machine apart? Bob On Aug 27, 2012, at 6:09 PM, Bob Higgins wrote [*corrected*]: 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 *carbon*. 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.
