The potential is therefore the total quantity of heat given off at constant volume when expressed in equivalent work units and is a measure of the strength of the explosive.
Therefore, if Then, because of the conversion of energy to work in the constant pressure case, from which the value of Qmv may be determined.
where: The work energy expended by the gaseous products of detonation is expressed by: With pressure constant and negligible initial volume, this expression reduces to: Since heats of formation are calculated for standard atmospheric pressure (101 325 Pa, where 1 Pa = 1 N/m2) and 15°C, V2 is the volume occupied by the product gases under these conditions.
Once the chemical reaction has been balanced, one can calculate the volume of gas produced and the work of expansion.
As previously stated, Qmv converted to equivalent work units is the potential of the explosive.