Explosives and Blast Injuries By James M Madsen, MD, MPH, U S.Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD) Reviewed / Revised Jan 2023 View Patient Education Pathophysiology Symptoms and Signs Diagnosis Treatment Topic Resources Examples of Low-Grade and... Mechanisms of Blast Injury High-energy events in which a solid or liquid is converted rapidly to a gas can occur at 3 rates: Deflagration: Rapid burning but minimal blast Explosion: Subsonic ignition and blast wind (low-grade explosive) Detonation: Supersonic ignition and blast wave (high-grade explosive) An example of deflagration would be the rapid flash (without a bang) that results when an open pile of black powder (gunpowder) is ignited.