China explodes massive non-nuclear hydrogen bomb that can melt high-value targets: Report

Chinese scientists may have tested a hydrogen-based explosive device, triggering massive chemical chain reactions without using any nuclear materials, SCMP reported, citing a study published last month. According to the research paper, the chain reaction produced a fireball exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius lasting more than two seconds.

The device was reportedly built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s (CSSC) 705 Research Institute. The SCMP report said that the device used “a magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage material.”

Magnesium-based hydrogen storage material

The material is actually a silvery powder, which can hold a much higher volume of hydrogen in a compact form. In the paper, scientists described how, when triggered by standard explosives, the material rapidly breaks down and releases hydrogen gas. This gas then ignites, creating an intense and sustained flame.

Such a mechanism could potentially be used in high-energy propulsion systems or advanced weapons due to its compactness and energy density.

The researchers wrote, “Hydrogen gas explosions ignite with minimal ignition energy, have a broad explosion range, and unleash flames that race outward rapidly while spreading widely.”

“This combination allows precise control over blast intensity, easily achieving uniform destruction of targets across vast areas,” they added.

Potential military use

The researchers are also believed to have explored the military use of the device, especially when situation demands covering a large area with intense heat and focusing its power on high-value targets to destroy them.

This was not clear where the large amount of magnesium hydride used in the test came from. The paper also skipped mentioning the potential scenarios where China’s People’s Liberation Army may actually deploy these weapons.

Why producing magnesium hydride is a big deal

Before, scientists could only make a few grams of magnesium hydride each day in labs. That’s because making it needs very high heat and pressure. If it touches air by accident, it can explode.

Now, China has built a big factory in Shaanxi that can make 150 tonnes of this material each year. The factory uses a special method called “one-pot synthesis” that makes production cheaper and safer, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Scientists are also exploring other uses of the device, including powering submarine fuel cells and long-endurance drone power systems.