FOG HORN

August, 2016
Twobirds Flying Publication

MORPHIX TECHNOLOGIES TRACE X EXPLOSIVES KIT

Copyright 2016, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.

MORPHIX TECHNOLOGIES TRACE X EXPLOSIVES KIT

2016

MORPHIX TECHNOLOGIES TRACE X EXPLOSIVES KIT

By: Sal Palma
Before getting into my review I want to thank
two individuals for generously providing their
time, substantial expertise and opinions to
supplement my limited experience with the
highly technical subject of explosives. Thomas
Bender, Van Nuys, CA, an explosives expert and
armorer with more film credits than you can
shake a stick at and Ryan Morris, President,
Tripwire Operations Group LLC1. Both of these
individuals contributed significantly to this
review.
So, what is a TraceX Explosives Kit from
MORPHIX Technologies? The 50,000 ft.
explanation is that TraceX is a field expedient,
extremely compact, explosives test kit
developed by MORPHIX Technologies under
1

Tripwire Operations Group LLC. (Tripwire) is a SBA

certified company (small business) that is SAM registered.
Tripwire Operations Groups is comprised of First
Responders dedicated to First Responders. We believe the
most highly trained create a safer America. We prepare
military and first responders to protect our country and
cities, providing products, training, services and
relationships that together no one else provides.

contract with the Department of Defense. More

specifically its a colorimetric explosive test kit.
There are no electronics components; the
presence of explosive materials, and precursors,
is indicated by color changes resulting from a
reaction with specific chemicals. Unlike
electronic detection systems, TraceX requires
little training, so it is usable by regular military
and law enforcement to quickly determine the
presence of homemade explosives, or HMEs,
and their precursors in the field. The kit is
capable of detecting 9 HMEs and their
precursors with a single test and its effective
on bulk as well as trace amounts. When we
speak of trace amounts, we mean
contamination not visible to the naked eye. Bulk
amounts are visible quantities of explosive
materials or powders.

Headquartered in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Tripwire is

rapidly expanding in both the Government and
commercial markets as a leading provider of training,
security solutions, and explosive products.
Every employee at Tripwire Operations Group is charged
with being a guardian of our Corporate Value System.
These values guide both our business and personal
relationships, and we take them very seriously. We believe
that our dedication to the fundamental tenets of honesty,
integrity and fair business dealings will enable us to
continue our long legacy of success. We do not claim to be
perfect, but we do pledge to try and run our business
according to the Value System and correct our actions if
we fall short
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MORPHIX TECHNOLOGIES TRACE X EXPLOSIVES KIT

2016

What I liked most about the TraceX kit is that

everything needed is contained in one compact
package. IKEA would turn green with envy. All
of the necessary reagents are stored in ampules
so theres no need for the user to handle
hazardous high molarity acids or strong bases.

objective was to impregnate the test surface

with a trace amount of what I believe will be
positive for nitrates. I created two, less than
glamorous, videos which Ill have available on
my blog along with this review to document my
procedures.

Second, the collector is designed to isolate the

user from the test surface and sample, one
would need to have polished off a bottle of Arak
to mess up and contaminate a sample; thats
how well thought-out this kit is. Its about as
sailor proof as anything Ive seen.

I contaminated the test surface on 9 August and

tested the surface on 16 Aug. The results are
clearly indicated in the slide below. You can see
a color change for Nitrates (hot pink color) and
the presence of HMX, RDX, EGDN or PETN
indicated by a very light pink color.

I have to laugh a bit at this point because while

in college, one of the defining characteristics of
geology majors is that they were all slobs,
whereas chemistry majors required a much
higher level of cleanliness in order for the lab
exercises to produce expected results. Isolating
the operator from the collector surface
mitigates (but does not eliminate) the risk of
contaminating your sample. In law enforcement
or counter-terror operations it could mean the
difference between a good bust and a civil suit.
TraceXs collector design is about as close to
perfect as one can get in a non-laboratory
setting with a system as compact. Users can be
assured of a good clean sample under most
conditions.
I killed a few brain cells coming up with a
meaningful way of testing the TraceX kit outside
of a lab setting, I have to thank Ryan Morris
who offered to run it through his lab and create
a video for me, but heck thats no fun so I
ended up pulling the bullet on a .22 caliber CB
short, emptied the powder charge and
discharged the primer on my test surface. The
priming compound used in rimfire ammunition
is a mixture of lead styphnate, antimony sulfide,
barium nitrate, and other chemicals. My

Other than reading the directions and some

chemistry background from college (totally
unnecessary) I have no formal or informal
training in using the product.
The TraceX kit was extremely easy to use but
you will need to apply strong hand pressure to
rupture the ampules releasing the reagents.
This may prove problematic for women or
individuals with weaker hands, but something
that could be easily remedied by using metal
poppers.
MORPHIX Technologies has gone to great
lengths to eliminate the risks associated with
accidental chemical/user interaction; however,
please keep in mind that you are working with

Copyright 2016, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

MORPHIX TECHNOLOGIES TRACE X EXPLOSIVES KIT

caustic chemicals so at a minimum wear eye

protection.
Hands-on use of the
kit was very straight
forward; first youll
want to verify your
kits expiration date,
dont use expired kits. Next youll want to
dampen the TraceX collector. This is done by
pressing on the designated ampules.
Instructions are clearly provided to guide you
through the process. There are two collection
techniques that you need to be aware of; one
for smooth surfaces and another for rough or
textured surfaces. On smooth surfaces like
countertops or tables, swab the surface using a
figure 8 motion for about 10 20 seconds. On
rough surfaces like concrete, or where you can
see bulk quantities, use a dabbing motion. Dab
2 or 3 times as you dont want to contaminate
your collector with too much material, it may
clog the reagent channels and render the kit
unusable. To reiterate, all steps are well
documented with appropriate illustrations,
which our USMC brothers and sisters will
appreciate.

Earlier, I mentioned that TraceX can detect 9

HMEs and their precursors, most of which are
boutique HMEs like the Triacetone Triperoxide

2016

used in Paris and at the Brussels airport, with

one test.

Nitroaromatics, e.g. TNT, DNT, Tetryl

Nitramines/Nitrate Esters e.g. RDX,
HMX, PETN, EGDN, NG
Inorganic Nitrates e.g. urea nitrate,
ammonium nitrate, black powder
Chlorate/Bromates e.g. potassium
chlorate, potassium bromate
Peroxides e.g. TATP, HMTD
Acids e.g. nitric acid, sulfuric acid, citric
acid
Bases e.g. potassium hydroxide, sodium
hydroxide.

Once the operator has gained access to a

suspect facility, he or she can successfully run a
test from start to finish in less than 10 minutes,
consistently. This is a measurably beneficial
asset to law enforcement and counter-terror
personnel who are expected to be preemptive
rather than reactive.
Unlike electronic systems that can easily strain
law enforcement budgets, Trace X kits are
available at a unit cost of $30, or lower in
quantities. When you compare that with an
electronic handheld system like FLIRs FIDO X22
which has an M.S.R.P. of $9,999, TRACE X from
MORPHIX Technologies becomes a very cost
effective solution to what will surely become a
growing problem, the increased use of HMEs by
terrorists. Note that the M.S.R.P. for electronic
systems is equipment cost only. To arrive at the
fully loaded cost you need to consider operator
2

The FLIR FIDO X2 has capabilities not available in the

TRACE X kit. The FIDO unit will detect vapor and will detect
an HME in 10 to 20 seconds because you dont need to
wait for a colorimetric reaction.
Copyright 2016, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

MORPHIX TECHNOLOGIES TRACE X EXPLOSIVES KIT

training recurring maintenance, calibration and

supporting supplies.

2016

Manufacturer Specification

The MORPHIX Technologies TraceX explosives

test kit has a number of things going for it. First,
it detects 9 HMEs and precursors with one test.
Second, its compact size makes it easily
transportable; any utility pouch attached to a
vest or belt is more than adequate and It also
has a broad operating range - operating
temperature range
2C to 50C (35F to
122F) and operating humidity range from 10%
to 95% RH. Its unlikely that youll encounter a
problem under most field conditions. The
collector design isolates the operator from the
sample so it effectively mitigates the risk of
contaminating your test, and its ease of use and
no power requirement makes the TraceX kit
ideal for field deployment. On the financial side,
its unit cost makes it feasible for broad
distribution to law enforcement and other units
directly involved with counter-terror activities.

In closing, keep in mind that when using any

trace detection technology a positive indication
is only step one of a lengthier process; however,
TraceX is one more arrow in law enforcements
quiver as they seek to be proactive in the fight
against terror.

Shelf Life:
12 months3
Operating Temperature Range: 2C to
50C (35F to 122F)
Operating Humidity Range:
10% to
95% RH
Sensitivity:
Trace Level (can also
detect bulk levels)
Explosives Detected: Nitroaromatics,
e.g. TNT, DNT, Tetryl
o Nitramines/Nitrate Esters e.g.
RDX, HMX, PETN, EGDN, NG
o Inorganic Nitrates e.g. urea
nitrate, ammonium nitrate,
black powder
o Chlorate/Bromates
e.g.
potassium chlorate, potassium
bromate
o Peroxides e.g. TATP, HMTD
o Acids e.g. nitric acid, sulfuric
acid, citric acid
o Bases e.g. potassium hydroxide,
sodium hydroxide
Time for Color Change Less than 3
minutes
Kit Size 131 mm x 92 mm x 17 mm (51/4" X 3-3/4" X 3/4")

-SP

Store at room temperature. Short term excursions

up to 50C are acceptable.
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