We talk about energetic people - lots of energy - go, go, go! And then what would the energetics industry be? Today's Globe and Mail headline "From flax to firepower" was a surprise.
"Energetic refers to chemical substances or mixtures that possess a large capacity for storing chemical energy, which can be rapidly released through reactions triggered by external stimuli such as mechanical or thermal shock waves."
Who would guess that flax can be processed into products that end up being explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics. Normally we think of commercial applications. I think of flax seed as a tasty addition to granola. And also of flax being woven into fabric.
The flax stalks are high in cellulose and are normally a waste product. But they can be processed into solid biofuels in the form of pellets and then used as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The Globe was highlighting that flax straw can be processed to derive nitrocellulose and this is an ingredient in propellants and energetics used for modern artillery shells.
There's a long history of the use of flax in fire and ballistics. Flax fibres are strong enough that they were used to string bows and crossbows, and were woven together to be vest protectors against arrows and swords.
Who would guess there would be interesting stories of fax harvesting. I found an Australian story from WWII where flax was harvested for coats, parachute harnesses, ropes and tarpaulins. The Flax Mill had caught fire. The process of putting the fire out was described. Here's what got my attention the most:
"to save further destruction two men mounted on motor cycles with a wire stretched between them, rode either side of the burning stacks, bringing them down."
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