Sponge bomb
Non-lethal bomb used to seal tunnels
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Development
The sponge bomb was developed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to address the use of tunnels by Hamas in Gaza.[3][4]
Design
Housed in a plastic container, the bomb has a metal partition that separates two liquid reagents. Once the partition is removed, the liquids mix and react, causing them to rapidly expand and then solidify, creating a physical barrier blocking the tunnel. The device is either set at its target by an individual or thrown.[1]
In 2021, testing of sponge bombs was reportedly conducted by IDF in simulated tunnels.[5]
The expanding foam is created by mixing two components: an isocyanate (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate or toluene diisocyanate) and a polyol resin. When combined, these chemicals undergo a rapid exothermic reaction that produces carbon dioxide, causing the liquid to expand up to 60 times its volume before hardening into a solid, durable plastic
During initial testing of these bombs, the liquid emulsion was found to be hazardous to work with when mishandled – some Israeli soldiers lost their eyesight.[1]
Historical perspective
This is not the first time that sticky foam has been used by a military force. Reportedly, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army have used streams of foam as non-lethal tools for crowd control or restraint of hostile combatants.[4]
