China detonated a Non-Nuclear Hydrogen Bomb | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Different from the traditional atomic and hydrogen bombs, the 2-kg device reached temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius marking a major step in the development and use of future weapons. 

Key Features of the Non-Nuclear Hydrogen Bomb

  • Chemical Reaction: It deploys chemical reaction with Magnesium Hydride to create a powerful explosion without nuclear materials. 
    • Hydrogen bomb, on the other hand, is primarily based on the nuclear fusion process. 
  • Uses Magnesium Hydride: Unlike Hydrogen bombs that uses radioactive hydrogen isotopes like deuterium or tritium as fuel. 
    • Magnesium Hydride is a silvery powder that acts as a solid-state hydrogen storage material.  
    • When ignited it releases hydrogen that rapidly mixes with air and on reaching explosive limits, the gas ignites creating a self-sustaining combustion cycle. 
  • Scale of Damage: Generates only about 40% of Trinitrotoluene’s blast force, but demonstrates greater thermal damage radius with heat output enough to melt materials such as aluminium alloys.
    • It requires minimal ignition energy and has the ability to generate intense, sustained heat without producing radiations. 
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