Explosives

Raman spectroscopy is highly sensitive to the chemicals used in explosives and their precursors, making Raman the preferred choice for bomb squads and law enforcement around the world.

Serstech’s solutions have been designed and developed with the everyday challenges of the bomb technician in mind. The instruments can be operated even with heavy gloves and ChemDash provides all the information and tools needed for further analysis and reporting.

Features Adapted for Explosives Identification

All Serstech’s instruments use 785 nm lasers, which create a much stronger Raman response than longer wavelengths, such as 1064 nm. Since the Raman response is stronger, the instruments can measure with a lower laser power and for a shorter time, which reduces the risk of igniting the sample and causing an explosion.

Serstech’s instruments have physically well-separated hardware buttons, which makes them easy to operate even with thick protective gear and gloves.  The displays have been carefully selected to provide high readability even in direct sunlight and in dark rooms.

All hazard information is displayed directly in the results screen and the operator gets instant feedback on the properties and hazard information of the substance found. This keeps the operator well informed to make decisions fast.

Serstech Arx

Size and Weight

Serstech’s instruments are small and light, the smallest and lightest in the industry. The size and weight are important, since any instrument left in the truck is useless, regardless of how good it is. Despite of the small form-factor, all instruments have battery capacity to last a full working day.

Serstech 100 Indicator and Serstech Arx both have a standard USB port for connection to a computer. The same port is used for charging the internal battery and any off-the-shelf battery pack can be used to extend the battery life of the instruments and for charging it in the field.

Serstech 100 Indicator has a weight of 650 grams and Serstech Arx only 600 grams.

Custom-Made Explosives Library

To ensure maximum performance and precision, Serstech develops its own libraries together with partners around the world. All libraries have been created with Serstech’s own instruments, ensuring perfect compatibility and precision.

Serstech works closely with Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, which manufactures explosives for Serstech. Serstech’s chemists spend a few days every quarter at FOI’s facilities to add new explosives, precursors and other relevant substances to its libraries. The libraries are enriched by Serstech staff and always include CAS numbers, GHS symbols and other information relevant for the operator in the field.

Serstech holds a permit from the Swedish authorities to manufacture and export substances classified as war material, such as military explosives. Serstech’s explosives library includes military and civilian explosives as well as IEDs and precursors.

Identification of Small Amounts

Due to the nature of explosive substances, it is often wise to take a small sample before an analysis is made. Serstech’s instruments are able to identify very small amounts, even a single milligram. A single grain is often enough for identification, as can be shown in the image below.

Identification of a single grain of HMTD with the Serstech 100 Indicator.