Semtex is a general-purpose plastic explosive. It was the Explosive Weapon of the Israeli Commando.
Description
Like other plastic explosives, semtex is highly malleable, allowing the user to form it into the desired shape. It stays malleable between -40 to 140°F (-40 to 60°C), and is waterproof. Semtex is generally red or orange in color (however, it appeared off-white in the show). It is also lightweight enough that if it was hidden inside an object like a cellphone or a laptop you wouldn't notice any difference in the object's weight when you lifted it.
Uses
Semtex was developed in the late 1950's in Czechoslovakia. It quickly became popular with terrorist organizations because it was, until very recently, very difficult to detect.
Trivia
- Semtex was used as the payload in dead drop spike, which was the explosive weapon of the KGB in the CIA vs. KGB episode. It was also used in the IRA's improvised explosive device called the nail bomb.