  ABBCITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by Kynoch, Ltd. The original composition which passed the Woolwich Test was—
To enable it to pass the Rotherham Test sodium chloride was added, and a little dinitro-toluene was also introduced— Abbcite No. 2.
The permit has now been repealed. ABELITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Lancashire Explosives Co. Two formulas were approved—
The permits have now been repealed. Abelite (without distinguishing number) is simply a mixture of ammonium nitrate and trinitro-toluene—
It is therefore a variety of Bellite in which the dinitro-benzene has been replaced by trinitro-toluene. It is used for filling grenades and general blasting purposes, but is not permitted in dangerous coal mines. AEROLIT is a Danish ammonium nitrate explosive, e.g.—
AETNA COAL POWDER is an American coal-mine powder on the Permissible List. Brands A, B and C are nitroglycerine explosives. AA and No. 2 are ammonium nitrate explosives. AETNA POWDER.—A variety of American dynamite containing 15 to 65 per cent. of nitroglycerine mixed with wood pulp and sodium nitrate. Roasted flour has sometimes been substituted for wood pulp. AJAX POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co.
In 1914, 329,000 lbs. were used in coal mines, but the permit has now been repealed. ALBIONITE.—A mixture of gelignite and ammonium oxalate. It was formerly on the Permitted List. ALBIT.—A German chlorate explosive introduced in 1915 in consequence of the scarcity of nitrates due to the War. It is defined as consisting of not more than 80 per cent. sodium or potassium chlorate, not more than 4 per cent. nitroglycerine, and mono- or dinitro-hydrocarbons. It may also contain inorganic salts and carbon carriers such as vegetable meal, oils, soaps or carbohydrates. A variety made for use in coal mines is called Wetter-Albit or Kohlen-Albit. ALDORFIT. See ALSILITE S.G.P.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive on the list of Explosifs S.G.P. It is of the Ammonal type—
AMASITE.—A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List—
It was made by the SociÉtÉ Anonyme de Vilvorde in Belgium, and was originally called Ugolite. Rock Amasite and S.T. Amasite are non-permitted explosives of composition somewhat similar to the above. AMATOXOL.—A mixture of ammonium nitrate and Toxol, which consists of trinitro-toluene and trinitro-xylene. *AMBERITE.—A smokeless shot-gun powder made by Curtis’s and Harvey at Tonbridge. Amberite No. 1 contained nitroglycerine as well as nitrocotton and various other substances. According to “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 78, a sample of Amberite No. 2 had the composition—
This is still on the market. It is a fibrous 42-grain bulk powder. *
See also Ammonpulver and Hebler Powder.
More violent mixtures made by the same firm are—
and modifications of this have been used largely in the British service. It is not suitable for use in underground workings as it forms on explosion the poisonous gas carbon monoxide, When the explosive is detonated, the aluminium is converted into the oxide, evolving no gas, but a considerable amount of heat, which increases the power of the explosive. The aluminium powder also renders the explosive easier to detonate. Three explosives of this type passed the Woolwich Test, and were on the old Permitted List for coal mines, namely, Ammonal B, Ripping Ammonal and Saint Helen’s Powder (q. v.).
No explosives containing aluminium are on the present Permitted List.
AMMONIAKKRUT was the first ammonium nitrate explosive. It was invented by J. Ohlsson and J. H. Norrbin, two Swedes, and was protected by English Patent 2766 of 1869. It consisted of ammonium nitrate together with 5 or 10 per cent. of charcoal, coal dust, etc., to which mixture was added 10 to 30 per cent. of nitroglycerine to make it less difficult to detonate.
Ammonite No. 1 is used on a considerable scale in coal mines. A non-permitted explosive called Ripping Ammonite is also made. *
It was superseded by a powder of the ballistite type, but has been reintroduced recently by the Germans to replace a part of the charge of nitrocellulose powder in their field gun. The advantages claimed for it are small erosion of the gun, absence of muzzle flame, chemical stability, and cheapness. On the other hand, it gives high pressures, and if used by itself requires a gun with a specially large chamber; but the most serious objection to it is that on keeping, physical changes take place in the pellets, leading to the production of very high pressures. It is said that moisture promotes these changes. See also Amide Powder. AMVIS.—A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List—
Neu ANAGON.—A German blasting explosive containing not more than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, zinc-aluminium alloy and charcoal. ANCHORITE.—A coal-mine explosive of the Favier type, formerly on the Permitted List. It was made by Kynoch-Arklow, Ltd.
ANILIT.—A German explosive containing not less than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, not more than 5 per cent. of sugar, and copper sulphate-aniline or copper oxalate-aniline. ANILITE.—A French liquid explosive of the Sprengel class used for aerial bombs.
The Charge limite is 900 grammes, which is equivalent to 524 grammes of dynamite No. 1. The composition is the same as that of IngÉlite. It is a low-freezing nitroglycerine explosive. APHOSITE.—A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List—
*APYRITE.—A nitrocellulose smokeless powder formerly made in Sweden by the SociÉtÉ Grakrut. ARKITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by Kynoch, Ltd. The original composition which passed the Woolwich Test was—
The proportions were modified, and the following passed the Rotherham Test, and was on the Permitted List—
It has now been repealed. Astralit I and II are defined as consisting of ammonium nitrate, charcoal, vegetable meal, not more than 15 per cent. of aromatic nitro-bodies not more dangerous than trinitro-toluene, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine; also paraffin oil. Astralit IV consists of ammonium nitrate, not more than 10 per cent. of aromatic nitro-bodies not more dangerous than dinitro-naphthalene, vegetable meal, and not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine. Astralit V, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate in addition to ammonium nitrate, also vegetable meal, not more than 16 per cent. of aromatic nitro-compounds, and not more than 4 per cent. of nitroglycerine. Gelatine-Astralit is a gelatinised or powdery mixture of the nitrates of ammonium and sodium (or potassium), not more than 50 per cent. of dinitro-chlorhydrin, not more than 5 per cent. of nitroglycerine, not more than 2 per cent. of collodion cotton, vegetable meal, aromatic nitro-bodies such as nitro-toluenes or nitro-naphthalenes, but not more than 4 per cent. of trinitro-toluene; also hydrocarbons. Wetter-Astralit is a coal-mine explosive, and differs from Astralit in that part of the ammonium nitrate is replaced by sodium chloride. Wetter-Gelatine-Astralit is also a coal-mine explosive, and differs from Gelatine-Astralit in that it contains also fatty oils and neutral salts, such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride or an oxalate. The following percentage compositions have been given—
This explosive was authorised in England under the name of Australite. ATLAS POWDER.—A brand of American straight dynamite. AUSTRALITE. See *AXITE. A smokeless powder made by Kynoch, Ltd., and used for sporting rifles. It is a sort of Cordite MD, with a little of the guncotton replaced by potassium nitrate, and is in the form of flat strips. A sample had the composition—
*
BAELENITE.—A Belgian mining explosive—
It is authorised for manufacture in, or importation into the United Kingdom. BARATOL.—A mixture of barium nitrate and trinitro-toluene. BARBARIT.—A German chlorate explosive made at the Sprengstoff-fabriken Kriewald bei Gleinitz.
The petroleum has a flash point not below 105° C., and commences to boil not below 242°. Gelatine-Barbarit has the composition—
BARKING POWDER.—A mixture of ammonium perchlorate and nitrated naphthalene, formerly used in coal mines. BAUTZENER SICHERHEITSPULVER.—A German coal-mine explosive containing not less than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, barium nitrate, and not more than 15 per cent. of trinitro-toluene. BAVARIT.—A German coal-mine explosive similar to Grisounite. It contains 90 per cent. of ammonium nitrate together with nitrated naphthalene; charcoal may be added.
No. 1 contains just enough oxygen for complete combustion, and No. 3 contains a large excess of oxygen. To enable the explosive to pass the Rotherham Test sodium chloride has been added. There were four varieties on the present Permitted List, but all except the following, No. 1, have been repealed—
BITUMINITE.—There are several coal-mine explosives of this name on the American Permissible List. Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 8 L.F. are nitroglycerine explosives. No. 5 is an ammonium nitrate explosive. BLACK DIAMOND.—There are several coal-mine explosives of this name on the American Permissible List. Nos. 2A, 3A and 6 L.F. are nitroglycerine explosives, whereas Nos. 5, 7 and 8 are ammonium nitrate explosives. BLASTINE is a high explosive having approximately the composition—
As the sodium nitrate in the above is not equivalent to the ammonium perchlorate, part of the chlorine is given off in the form of the poisonous gas, hydrogen chloride (hydrochloric acid).
More than a million pounds of this explosive are used in coal mines every year. It shatters the coal less than high explosives do. BOMLIT.—A German potassium perchlorate blasting explosive made by Wolff et Cie. at Walsrode. It contains also ammonium nitrate, trinitro-toluene and guncotton. Other ingredients that may be present are potassium and sodium nitrates, starch meal, vaseline, naphthalene and other hydrocarbons, charcoal and castor oil.
BROWN POWDER. See BRUGÈRE’S POWDER consisted of—
It was stated to give good results in the ChassepÔt rifle, but picrate mixtures are liable to detonate, and are therefore dangerous to use as propellants. BULL DOG Gunpowder Pellets were used in coal mines. They contained the same constituents as Bobbinite, which superseded them, but in different proportions. Explosifs C were mixtures of ammonium cresylate with ammonium or sodium nitrate. They were made in France at one time, but their manufacture was dropped, as they were more expensive to make than Grisounite, and no more powerful.
AMMONCAHUECIT.—In this explosive the potassium nitrate is replaced mainly or wholly by ammonium nitrate, and it contains not more than 15 per cent. of trinitro-toluene or trinitro-naphthalene or other nitro-body. The brand labelled “Fram” contains ammonium nitrate, not more than 25 per cent. of trinitro-toluene gelatinised with 4 per cent. collodion cotton, wood meal or other vegetable meal and neutral stable salts. The brand “Indra” is similar, except that it contains also not more than 10 per cent. potassium nitrate, and the percentage of trinitro-toluene may be raised to 20.
Only No. 2 is now on the Permitted List. CAMERON MINE POWDER.—There are a number of coal-mine explosives of this name on the American Permissible List. Nos. 1a, 2a and 2a LF are ammonium nitrate explosives, whereas Nos. 3a and 5a are nitroglycerine explosives. *CANNONITE was a smokeless powder made by a firm called the War and Sporting Smokeless Powder Syndicate, Ltd. It consisted of about 86 per cent. of nitrocellulose mostly insoluble in ether-alcohol, and a few per cent. of barium nitrate, together with small quantities of some of the following: potassium nitrate, charcoal, lampblack, vaseline, rosin, stearine, dinitro-benzene, trinitro-toluene, potassium ferro-cyanide, graphite. For shot-guns the powder was of the forty-two grain type, dense and gelatinised. The rifle powder was colloidal. These powders were made in the ’nineties of the last century. CARBITE D’ABLON is a sort of Carbonite made in France—
CARBO-DYNAMITE was an explosive patented by W. D. Borland. It differed from ordinary dynamite in that the nitroglycerine was absorbed in cork charcoal instead of kieselguhr. One part of the charcoal sufficed to absorb nine parts of nitroglycerine.
The Carbonite made at the works of the Carbonite Syndicate at Schlebusch, and imported into Great Britain, was practically the same as this, but they also made another explosive which passed the Woolwich Test, and contained 35 per cent. of nitroglycerine gelatinised with nitrocotton, and smaller proportions of nitrates and wood meal than are given above: this was called Extra-Carbonite. They have also made explosives to numerous modifications of this formula for use on the Continent. The essential feature of all of them is that they contain so much of the combustible constituents, such as wood meal, that most of the carbon appears in the products of explosion as carbon monoxide, and the temperature of the gases is consequently low. Nobels at Ardeer also made a low freezing explosive in which part of the nitroglycerine was replaced by a nitro-compound. This was called Arctic Carbonite—
Various manufacturers have made explosives of the type of Carbonite and placed them on the market under different names, such as Tutol, Kolax, Kohlen-Carbonite, Minite and Colinite. These, however, do not pass the Rotherham Test for Permitted Explosives, unless ammonium oxalate On the Continent, explosives similar to Arctic Carbonite have been produced under the names Antigel de SÛretÉ and IngÉlite. There are several Carbonites on the American Permissible List. Of these Nos. 1 to 4 are in order of diminishing violence: Nos. 5 and 6 are low freezing varieties. There are also a number of other explosives of the Carbonite type on the List. Ammonkarbonit is a German coal-mine explosive, containing about 80 per cent. of ammonium nitrate and 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, together with 5 or 10 per cent. of potassium nitrate, and a combustible such as flour, starch or coal dust. Sodium or potassium chloride may be added as a cooling agent. It has been used for blasting clay. Gelatine-Karbonit is a Carbonite containing ammonium nitrate, and a considerable proportion of nitroglycerine gelatinised with collodion cotton. Halokarbonit is similar to Ammonkarbonit, except that a considerable proportion of the ammonium nitrate is replaced by other nitrates. CARLSONITE was the first ammonium perchlorate explosive submitted to H.M. Inspectors of Explosives. It was proposed in 1898 by Carlson of Stockholm, and some of the mixtures were reported on favourably, but no licence was ever taken out in the United Kingdom for this explosive. C.E. (Composition Exploding) is the same as Tetryl.
It was also called Zeltit. *CENTRALITE is not an explosive, but is a name given to a substance which has been used to modify the surface of smokeless powder, and make it burn progressively. The substance is dimethyl-diphenyl-urea. (See Brit. Pat. 29,882 of 1909.) It acts also as a stabiliser.
*CHEESA STICKS are sticks of cordite coated with powdered ammonium oxalate and shellac. They are used in South Africa as fuses for blasting charges. They are authorised in England only for manufacture and immediate export. *CHILWORTH SMOKELESS POWDER. See *CHILWORTH SPECIAL POWDER. See CHLORATIT is an Austrian explosive, which was permitted for use in coal mines during the War. CHLORATZIT.—A German explosive containing potassium chlorate or perchlorate, aromatic nitro-bodies, resins and carbohydrates. For use in coal mines neutral salts are added as cooling agents, and the name then has WETTER or KOHLEN prefixed to it.
*CLERMONITE.—A Belgian shot-gun powder made by the Cooppal Co. It is a 40-grain fibrous powder of the bulk type and coloured green.
SUPER-CLIFFITE differs considerably from this. There are two formulÆ which have passed the Rotherham Test, but only No. 2 is still on the Permitted List—
CLYDITE was a coal-mine explosive formerly made by Nobels at Ardeer. It was similar to Nobel Carbonite, but the potassium nitrate was replaced by the barium salt, and it might contain up to 8 per cent. of ammonium oxalate. COALITE.—There is a series of coal-mine explosives of this name on the American Permissible List. Varieties X, 3X, and 3XC are ammonium nitrate explosives; whereas 1, 2D, 2DL and 2MLF are nitroglycerine explosives. COAL SPECIAL are American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. They are all nitroglycerine explosives.
It was compressed to a density of 1·8 into prisms or grains of considerable size, and was used in guns of large calibre. E.X.E. and S.B.C. were special varieties of this.
COLLIER POWDER.—There are a number of coal-mine explosives of this name on the American Permissible List. Varieties BNF, KN, X, XLF, 5, 5LF, 5 Special, 9, 11, and 11LF are ammonium nitrate explosives whereas 2 and 6LF are nitroglycerine explosives. COLLODION COTTON is a variety of nitrocotton of low nitration, almost completely soluble in a mixture of ether and alcohol. It contains not more than 12·3 per cent. of nitrogen. It also dissolves in nitroglycerine and liquid nitro-compounds, rendering them gelatinous and so preventing their exudation. *COOPPAL’S POWDER.—A Belgian smokeless shot-gun powder. Formerly it was much the same as Schultze Powder, consisting of nitrolignin carefully purified, and mixed with nitrates with or without the addition of starch. The following analyses were published in “Arms and Explosives” for July 1917—
During the great European War a further variety was
It is designed to give about the same ballistics as Cordite M.D. A further letter is sometimes added to show the form of the powder. Thus Cordite M.D.T. is M.D. pressed into tubes; S. stands for strip. The size is indicated by a numeral, which shows the diameter in hundredths of an inch of the die through which it has been pressed. In the case of tubular powder both the external and internal diameters are given approximately: e. g. Cordite M.D.T. 5-2. Poudre blanche CORNIL.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate, potassium or sodium nitrate, dinitro-naphthalene and lead chromate, with or without the addition of ammonium chloride. CORNISH POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive which passed the Woolwich Test and was formerly on the Permitted List, made by the National Explosives Co., Ltd.—
Picric acid has been called by this name in Sweden. See also COSILIT.—A German coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type made by Nahnsen. A published analysis gives its composition as—
COTTON POWDER. See CRÉSYLITE.—A French high explosive used for filling shell and other military purposes. CrÉsylite 60/40 consists of picric acid and nitrated cresol in about the proportions of 40 of the former to 60 of the latter. It melts below the temperature of boiling water. The nitrated cresol consists largely of trinitro-metacresol. CRONITE is an American coal-mine explosive. There are two varieties on the Permissible List, Nos. 1 and 5, both of which are ammonium nitrate explosives. *CRYSTAL is a smokeless shot-gun powder made by Curtis’s and Harvey. It is a non-solvent powder for cheap loading, and the charge is thirty-three grains. CUGNITE.—A French blasting explosive manufactured by the SociÉtÉ FranÇaise des Explosifs—
SUPER-CURTISITE was a modification of the above to enable it to pass the Rotherham Test—
The permit has been repealed. DAHMENITE is an ammonium nitrate explosive which has been used to a considerable extent in Germany. One variety known as Dahmenite A, made by De Gezamenlijke Buskruidmakers van Noord-Holland, was formerly on the British Permitted List for use in dangerous coal mines—
Ordinary Dahmenite contains up to 15 per cent. of potassium nitrate instead of bichromate, and has been used for blasting clay. Some varieties contain curcuma meal and other constituents. The following are some examples—
DENABY POWDER.—There was formerly a blasting explosive of this name, consisting of a compressed mixture of Securite and charcoal—
In 1914 a coal-mine explosive was introduced under the same name and passed the Rotherham Test—
It is made by British Westfalite, Ltd. DETONIT V.—A German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate, charcoal, vegetable meal, neutral salts, and not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine. DETONITE SPECIAL is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It contains ammonium nitrate. DOMINITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Westphalia Anhalt Explosives Co. in Germany, and formerly on the British Permitted List—
DOMINIT XI.—A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, dinitro-toluene, glycerine, and not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine. DOMINIT XVIII, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is practically the same as Astralit V.
DONARIT A contains up to 16 per cent. of aluminium powder and no nitroglycerine. DONARIT V, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is practically the same as Astralit V. Wetter-Donarit contains also sodium chloride or other cooling agent. Gelatine-Donarit contains up to 20 per cent. of dinitro-chlorhydrin gelatinised with collodion cotton, in addition to the constituents of Donarit, and may also contain sodium nitrate.
ALDORFIT is a simpler mixture intended for use where there is no danger of fire-damp—
It is authorised in Great Britain. PERDORFIT contains not more than 52 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, sodium and ammonium nitrates, not more than 29 per cent. of trinitro-toluene and vegetable meal or gums. DRAGONITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by Curtis’s and Harvey, formerly on the Permitted List—
DREADNOUGHT POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive made by Roburite and Ammonal, Ltd., for a time on the Permitted List—
There is also Quarry Dreadnought Powder, which is not a permitted explosive. DUNNITE.—A high explosive used by the United States for filling shell. It is stated to give dangerous compounds with iron, so apparently is a compound of picric acid. DU PONT PERMISSIBLE.—An American coal-mine explosive. The following is on the British Permitted List—
*DU PONT SMOKELESS POWDER.—An American shot-gun powder of the fibrous 36-grain bulk type—
Sicherheits Gallerte-DYNAMIT.—A German coal-mine explosive—
Wettersicheres Gelatine-DYNAMIT.—A German coal-mine explosive—
the explosive being held in the pores of the kieselguhr. In other dynamites the nitroglycerine is absorbed in a material like wood meal, and a nitrate is added to oxidise the latter on explosion. In Gelatine Dynamite the nitroglycerine is gelatinised with collodion cotton. See under Gelatine. American Dynamites are not generally gelatinised with collodion cotton. They are made in a number of grades, depending on the percentage of nitroglycerine. For further details about various dynamites, see textbooks on explosives. DYNAMITE ANTIGRISOUTEUSE.—Belgian coal-mine explosive made at Baelen Wezel—
Of the above, IV. was found only to be safe in very small charges in the presence of fire-damp. No. V. has a “charge limite” of 700 grammes.
DYNOBEL.—A coal-mine explosive made by Nobels. The first formula to pass the Rotherham Test contained potassium perchlorate—
Subsequently other formulÆ of somewhat different composition passed the test—
Of these only Nos. 3 and 4 are still permitted. *E.C. POWDER was one of the first smokeless shot-gun powders, and is still one of the most successful. The composition has been varied somewhat from time to time, but it has always been a fibrous bulk powder. The following analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76—
ECHO or EKKO is a blasting explosive made at Nitedal in Norway, consisting of ammonium nitrate, nitrocotton, trinitro-toluene, aluminium powder, and sometimes ferro-silicon. It has been used on the Continent for filling hand-grenades. *ECONOMIC SMOKELESS SPORTING POWDER is a 42-grain bulk powder for shot-guns, made by the E.C. Powder Company. ECRASITE or EKRASIT is a high explosive used in Austria for filling shell and other military purposes. It is the ammonium salt of trinitro-cresol. ELECTRONITE.—There have been several explosives of this name, but none of them have been used extensively, and all are dead now. There was a coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List—
It was made by Curtis’s and Harvey. ELEY SMOKELESS SPORTING POWDER is a shot-gun powder similar to E.C. Ammon-ELSAGIT is a German coal-mine explosive. It contains ammonium nitrate, vegetable meal, not more than 6 per cent. of trinitro-toluene or other nitro-body, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, and may also contain fatty oils, alkali chlorides or oxalate, and sodium or potassium nitrate. Gesteins-ELSAGIT has much the same composition, but the percentage of trinitro-toluene may be raised to 12, and it contains no sodium or potassium nitrate. *EMPIRE POWDER is a smokeless shot-gun powder introduced in 1902 by Nobel’s Explosives Company. It is a fibrous 33-grain bulk powder, and, according to an analysis published in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 77, its composition is—
ERGITE.—A blasting explosive which was made for a few years in a factory in North Wales. Other explosives were also made under the names of Granergite, Shattergite, etc. ERIN GELIGNITE.—A Gelignite containing a small percentage of dinitro-toluene to prevent the nitroglycerine freezing. ESSEX POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd. It is on the Permitted List—
EUREKA No. 2 is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It contains nitroglycerine and a hydrated salt.
It will be seen that all three are about equal as regards power, but that No. 3, which contains the largest proportion of cooling agents and more nitroglycerine, can be used safely in much greater charges. In 1916 807,000 lbs. of No. 3 were used in mines and quarries, principally in coal mines. It is recommended by the makers, Curtis’s and Harvey, for hard coal and colliery work generally. The permits of the others have been repealed. EXPEDITE is a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd.—
See also EXPLOSIFS N, O, etc. See under respective letters. EXTRA DYNAMITE is a variety of American dynamite containing ammonium nitrate.
To make it pass the Rotherham Test, part of the ammonium nitrate was replaced by potassium nitrate, and ammonium chloride was added—
but this also has now been repealed.
Many explosives of this type are in use in different countries. On the old British Permitted List were Ammonite, Westfalite, Bellite and Roburite amongst others. Those now on the List contain ammonium or sodium chloride to enable them to pass the Rotherham Test, e.g. the later Ammonites, Bellite Nos. 2 and 4, Faversham Powder and Negro Powder. On the Belgian list of Explosifs S.G.P. is Favier II bis—
FAVORIT. See *FELIXITE is a smokeless shot-gun powder introduced in 1906 by the New Explosives Company. It is a fibrous 42-grain bulk powder, and, according to an analysis published in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76, has the composition—
*FILITE was a smokeless powder formerly used in the Italian services. It was a Ballistite consisting generally of equal parts of nitroglycerine and collodion cotton, to which 0·5 to 1 per cent. of FLAMMIVORE.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive made at Arendonck—
In the United Kingdom this is “authorised” but not “permitted” for use in dangerous mines. FLOBERT ammunition consists of small cartridges, like detonators, charged with a small quantity of mercury fulminate, and some antimony sulphide and potassium chlorate. It is used for target practice and shooting small birds. FOERDER SICHERHEITSSPRENGSTOFF.—A German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, mono- and di-nitro-aromatic compounds, vegetable meal and neutral salts. FOERDIT.—A German coal-mine explosive containing nitroglycerine gelatinised or ungelatinised, carbohydrates, glycerine, nitro-compounds, inorganic nitrates and sodium or potassium chloride. Ammon-Foerdit is a similar mixture, except that it contains a larger percentage of ammonium nitrate and no other inorganic nitrates. The nitroglycerine is gelatinised, and there is a little diphenylamine. The following are examples of these two explosives—
Ammon-Foerdit F, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate and is similar to Astralit V. FORCITE.—A variety of gelatine dynamite or gelignite made in Belgium. It contains blasting gelatine 36 to 64 per cent., sodium or ammonium nitrate, wood meal, magnesia and sometimes bran. An American explosive of the same name is a dynamite containing wood tar—
FORCITE ANTIGRISOUTEUSE 3.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type—
NEW FORTEX.—A modification of the above to pass the Rotherham Test—
FORT PITT MINE POWDER NO. 1 is an American coal-mine powder on the Permissible List. It is a nitroglycerine explosive. FRACTORITE.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive—
FRACTURITE.—A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List, made by the British Explosives Syndicate, Ltd.—
*FULMEN POWDER is a 33-grain smokeless powder for shot-guns made by the Schultze Gunpowder Co. FULMENIT.—A blasting explosive made by the German Nobel Co., containing ammonium nitrate, vegetable meal or charcoal, paraffin oil, trinitro-toluene and guncotton. WETTER-FULMENIT is a coal-mine explosive which has been much used. It differs from the above in containing also sodium or potassium chloride—
FUMYL.—A smoke-producing explosive containing trinitro-toluene and ammonium chloride, used for opening poison-gas shell, etc. GATHURST POWDER.—An explosive of the Grisounite class. According to an analysis given in Cundill and Thomson’s Dictionary it consisted of—
Wetter-Gehlingerit, which is a coal-mine explosive, contains also sodium or potassium chloride, and may contain up to 4 per cent. of nitroglycerine to increase its sensitiveness. GELATINÉ À L’AMMONIAQUE.—A Belgian explosive, a mixture of blasting gelatine and ammonium nitrate.
In America brands are made of 35 to 80 per cent. strength.
GESILIT.—A German coal-mine explosive made by Nahnsen. It contains blasting gelatine, inorganic nitrates, sodium chloride, carbohydrates and dinitro-toluene—
When tested in a gallery with an explosive gas mixture I. proved to be safer than the other two. GIANT COAL-MINE POWDERS are American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. No. 5 is an ammonium nitrate explosive, whereas Nos. 6, 7 and 8 are low-grade dynamites mixed with hydrated salts. GIANT POWDER is a name given in America to dynamite. No. 1 is a kieselguhr dynamite containing about 75 per cent. of nitroglycerine. Many varieties, however, do not contain kieselguhr, but consist of nitroglycerine mixed with wood pulp, sodium or potassium nitrate, resin, sulphur or other combustible matter. The nitroglycerine is sometimes gelatinised with collodion cotton, or in the “Extra” varieties is partially replaced by ammonium nitrate. GLONOINE was an early name for nitroglycerine. GLUECKAUF.—A German explosive of the Grisounite GOOD LUCK was an explosive made by the Sprengstoffwerke Glueckauf A.-G., and was on the old British Permitted List for coal-mine explosives. It had the composition—
GRANATFUELLUNG (i. e. Shell-filling) is a name given by the Germans to certain high explosives used for filling shell. Granatfuellung C/88 is picric acid, and C/02 is trinitro-toluene. See Fuellpulver. Other substances used in German shell and bombs are trinitro-anisole, dinitro-benzene, hexanitro-diphenylamine and hexanitro-diphenyl sulphide, otherwise picryl sulphide.
There are a number of explosives of this type made in other countries also, but they usually contain small proportions of combustible substances such as wood meal, and nitro-bodies such as trinitro-toluene. Of British explosives of this type, mention may be made of Monobel, Super-Excellite and Monarkite. German explosives of this sort include Salit, Tremonit, Donarit, Ammon-Karbonit and Astralit. On the Belgian list of Explosifs S.G.P. is Grisoutine II., which is identical in composition with Dynamite anti-grisouteuse V. GRISOUTITE.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive—
GUARDIAN.—American coal-mine explosives. Nos. 2, 2X, 3 and 3X are ammonium nitrate explosives, whereas Guardian A and Guardian Coal Powder B are nitroglycerine explosives. GUNCOTTON.—A highly nitrated cotton containing about 13 per cent. of nitrogen and only slightly soluble in ether-alcohol. GUNPOWDER. See *HALAKITE attracted public attention out of all proportion to its merits, of which it possessed none, in consequence of the extravagant claims made on its behalf by its “inventors” and their dupes. Early in 1917 the British Government caused an inquiry to be held, and the case for the explosive collapsed in a ludicrous manner. HALALIT.—A German blasting explosive made by Nahnsen, containing not more than 65 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, and not more than 32 per cent. of nitrated toluene, of which not more than 20 per cent. must be trinitro-toluene. It may also contain collodion cotton to gelatinise the liquid nitro-toluene, and sodium nitrate and wood meal or other vegetable meal. Ammon-Halalit A, which has been introduced recently, is similar to Astralit V. HALOKLASTIT. See HAMMONIT.—A German blasting explosive containing not more than 40 per cent. of potassium or sodium perchlorate, not more than 4 per cent. of nitroglycerine, aromatic nitro-bodies, ammonium nitrate, sodium or potassium nitrate, neutral salts and vegetable meal or other combustible matter.
H.E. stands for High Explosive, used for charging shell or other military purpose. * HECLA NO. 2 is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is an ammonium nitrate explosive made by the Du Pont Co. HECLA POWDER is a brand of American dynamite. HELIT is a similar explosive to Helagon, except that it contains dinitro-chlorhydrin, not more than 6 per cent., in the place of the zinc-aluminium alloy. HELLHOFITE}
A form of this explosive was tried by Gruson as a charge for shell many years ago. See also Panclastite. *HENRITE is a smokeless shot-gun powder of the fibrous 33-grain bulk type. A sample examined in 1902 had the composition—
HERCULES POWDER.—The name of a brand of American dynamite. HERCULITE.—This name has been given to several explosives. One was a mixture of sawdust, camphor, potassium nitrate and other substances, which was used for blasting. There was a coal-mine explosive of this name on the Permitted List, made by the British Explosives Syndicate, Ltd.—
but the permit has been repealed. HIMALAYITE.—A high explosive made from potassium chlorate, potato starch and a drying oil. The chlorate and starch are first heated together with water, and when dry the oil is mixed in. The explosive is said to have been adopted by the Portuguese for filling shell. It passed the chemical tests in England, but no licence was taken out for its manufacture. HUDSON’S EXPLOSIVE.—A stiff blasting gelatine made by incorporating nitroglycerine and collodion cotton together with the aid of acetone. It was tried in America in 1889 for filling shell, but is not used now for this purpose. HYGRADE COAL POWDER NO. 2 is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is a nitroglycerine explosive. *IDEAL POWDER is a shot-gun powder made by Nobels. IMPERIALITE is of no practical importance, but is interesting, as its history is that of the explosive one meets in the comic papers. The Marquis R. Imperiali had large private means and some knowledge of chemistry. He took out patents for a number of explosive mixtures and built a small factory in N. Italy, which started work in 1911. An explosion occurred the first day and killed five of the fifteen workers. Imperiali escaped and re-erected his factory. The day after it was restarted it blew up again and Imperiali *INDURITE was a smokeless powder patented by C. E. Munroe in 1893. It was made by incorporating guncotton with nitro-benzene to a hard mass. It was used for a time in the American Navy. Samples made in 1891 were still stable apparently in 1914, but some cases of instability occurred and it was given up. *
It is incorporated with the aid of ether-alcohol and pressed into strips, which are cut into cubes and then converted into grains of irregular shape. The fine siftings are used for revolver and practice ammunition. JUDSON POWDER.—A mild blasting explosive used in America. It is a sort of crude gunpowder coated with nitroglycerine to increase the violence of the explosion. The percentage of nitroglycerine may vary from 5 to 20, but is generally near the lower limit. Judson Powder R.R.P. has the composition—
The sodium nitrate is mixed with the combustibles and the mixture is
KANITE A is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is an ammonium nitrate explosive. KARBONIT. See KAUSOLIT.—An ammonium perchlorate explosive, introduced about 1915 by the Stockholm Superphosphaten-fabriks A.-b. KENT POWDER was a coal-mine explosive made by the Cotton Powder Co. It was of the Carbonite type and was on the Permitted List. It is now no longer “permitted.”
KENTITE is a coal-mine explosive made by British Westfalite, Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List and also passed the Rotherham Test, and so is still “permitted”—
KINETIT.—A German explosive made by gelatinising nitro-cellulose with nitro-benzene, and incorporating it with potassium nitrate and chlorate. It is somewhat sensitive to blows, etc. Early samples contained also antimony sulphide which rendered them decidedly dangerous. KIWIT.—A German chlorate explosive introduced during the War. It contains not more than 77 per cent. of sodium or potassium chlorate, carbon carriers such as paraffin, naphthalene, vaseline, meal or oil, also not more than 15 per cent. of liquid trinitro-toluene, and may contain dinitro-toluene, dinitro-naphthalene, sodium chloride and not more than 4 per cent. of guncotton. KOHLENKARBONIT. See
The permits of both have been repealed. Gesteins-Koronit (or -Favorit) contains not more than 85 per cent. of potassium or sodium chlorate, not more than 15 per cent. of nitro-bodies (but no trinitro-compounds), paraffin or fatty oils, naphthalene, vegetable meal, powdered coal, inert substances, and not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine. Kohlen-Koronit (or -Favorit) contains not more than 68 per cent. of potassium or sodium chlorate, aromatic hydrocarbons and nitro-hydrocarbons (but not more than 12 per cent. of aromatic nitro-bodies and no trinitro-compounds), sodium chloride or similar salts, paraffin or fatty oils, vegetable meal or other organic substance; not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine and not more than 4 per cent. of powdered coal. PERKORONIT is similar to Koronit except that it contains potassium or sodium perchlorate instead of chlorate. Part of the perchlorate may be replaced by nitrate. *K.S., K.S.G.—Kynoch’s Smokeless Powder. It is a fibrous bulk powder for shot-guns made by Kynochs, Ltd. The following analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 78—-
KYNARKITE is a coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type made by Kynoch, Ltd. It is no longer on the Permitted List—
KYNITE was a coal-mine explosive on the old Permitted List, but has been superseded by Kynarkite—
gelatinised by means of 40 parts of acetone. A gelatinised dense shot-gun powder of similar composition was also made. L.C. PULVER is a German Cheddite.
It is practically the same as Permonit A.
It is practically the same as Wetter-Persalit. LIGDYN is a nitroglycerine explosive similar to American dynamite made in South Africa. 40 per cent. Ligdyn consists of—
*LIGHTNING.—A 33-grain smokeless shot-gun powder made by the Schultze Gunpowder Co. See Schultze Powder. LIGNOSIT is a German blasting explosive containing a considerable percentage of ammonium nitrate. Lignosit I. contains also aromatic nitro-compounds, of which not more than 15 per cent. must be trinitro-compounds or wood meal, and not more than 6 per cent. of potassium nitrate, not more than I per cent. of collodion cotton and bauxite or salts, such as sodium chloride or carbonate. Lignosit II. may contain up to 10 per cent. of collodion cotton, but no wood meal or nitro-compounds. It is somewhat sensitive. Lignosit III. differs from I. in that it may contain up to 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine and contains no bauxite. The object of adding the neutral salts is evidently to make the explosive safer in coal mines. When intended for this purpose it is called Wetter-Lignosit I. or III. Lignosit IV. consists of ammonium nitrate, not more than 13 per cent. of trinitro-toluene, not more than 13 per cent. of aluminium powder, and wood meal. LITHOFRACTEUR is a name that has been given to more than one explosive. One introduced about 1873 by Krebs and Co. of Deutz, near Cologne, consisted of nitroglycerine absorbed in kieselguhr mixed with nitrates, charcoal or coal and sulphur. Some of it was imported into England at one time. LOEWENPULVER or Castroper Sprengpulver is a German blasting powder consisting of a compressed or granulated mixture of sodium nitrate, manganese dioxide, sulphur and carbonaceous substances such as briquette powder or coal. It may also contain potassium nitrate, wood meal or tar. LOMITE NO. 1 is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is a low-grade dynamite containing hydrated salts. LOWINITE NO. 2-B is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is an ammonium nitrate explosive. LUXIT I. is a German blasting explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate, not more than 17 per cent. of trinitro-toluene, and not more than 5 per cent. of wood meal. LYDDITE.—A high explosive used in the British Services for filling shell. It consists simply of picric acid, which is melted under proper precautions and poured into the shell. *
The nitrocotton has a solubility of only 15 or 20 per cent., and is partially gelatinised with ether-alcohol aided by the camphor. It is granulated under edge runners, granulated and drummed. MACARIT.—A Belgian high explosive for filling shell—
It has a high density and is not deliquescent. For equal weights its power is less than that of trinitro-toluene or picric acid, but for equal volumes it is somewhat greater. MARKANIT. See M.B. POWDER (Modernised Black) is a black powder mixture in which part of the potassium nitrate has been replaced by potassium or ammonium perchlorate, generally the potassium salt. It is manufactured at Bonnybridge, Stirling, at the works originally erected for making Mitchellite. During manufacture the composition is heated in steam boilers. (See “Arms and Explosives,” 1911, p. 7.) M.D. See MEGANIT is a Hungarian nitroglycerine explosive similar to American dynamite, except that it contains a small percentage of nitrated vegetable ivory. MELANITE.—A Belgian blasting explosive consisting of—
It contains, therefore, a considerable excess of oxygen. MÉLINITE is a high explosive used by the French for filling shell and other military purposes. It consists essentially of picric acid, to which other substances are sometimes added. Paraffin wax has been added to diminish the sensitiveness. MÉlinite D is simply picric acid, but MÉlinite O contains also a little CrÉsilite 2 (q. v.). MELLING POWDER was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the Cotton Powder Co. The permit has been repealed.
MERCURIT is a blasting explosive that has been introduced recently in Germany. It consists of 88 per cent. of potassium chlorate and 12 per cent. of high boiling neutral tar oil. In Mercurit II. up to 20 per cent. of the chlorate may be replaced by perchlorate. MERSEY POWDER was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the Cotton Powder Co. The permit has been repealed.
During the War a modification of the explosive was introduced for use in coal mines. This contains up to 30 per cent. of sodium chloride. MINERITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Forcite Co. of Baelen Wezel in Belgium, identical in composition with Kohlen-carbonite and Colinite antigrisouteuse. MINER’S FRIEND, NOS. 1 to 6. American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. They are ammonium nitrate explosives.
There was also an explosive of the Carbonite type of this name made at Arendonck in Belgium—
MINOLITE.—A Belgian blasting explosive, which is also approved for transport over the German railways. It contains ammonium nitrate, dinitro- or trinitro-naphthalene with other substances added in some cases. A variety for use in coal mines is called Minolite antigrisouteuse.
There was also a variety containing lead nitrate, but this could not be used in mines because of the poisonous smoke it evolved. *MISCHPULVER is a name given in German to ungelatinised smokeless nitro-cellulose powders. *MODDITE.—A sporting rifle powder made by Eley Bros. Analysis of a sample showed—
Of the nitrocellulose about one-third was soluble in ether-alcohol. It was made in the form of strip. Monachit I. contains ammonium nitrate, not more than 15 per cent. of nitro-compounds, of which not more than 60 per cent. must be trinitro-bodies, also vegetable meal and potassium nitrate. Monachit II. contains in addition not more than 1 per cent. of collodion cotton, not more than 1 per cent. of charcoal, also hydrocarbons and ammonium oxalate or other salts to act as cooling agents, and render the explosive suitable for use in coal mines, e. g.—
The collodion cotton is to gelatinise the nitro-compounds when they are liquid.
There is also Quarry Monobel which is not permitted for use in dangerous coal mines, and presumably contains no alkali chloride. See also Viking Powder and Victor Powder. MONOBEL, NOS. 1 to 7 are on the American Permissible List. Of these, Nos. 4 and 5 are low-freezing explosives, containing a small percentage of nitro-toluene or similar substance; Nos. 3 and 5 are less violent than the others. MONOBEL POWDER was the predecessor of the above and was on the old Permitted List. It is now no longer “permitted.”
*MULLERITE.—A shot-gun powder made by the Muller Co. in Belgium. It is a gelatinised dense powder in the form of green leaflets, and the charge for a 12-bore cartridge was 33 grains. It contains no inorganic salts. EXPLOSIFS N. See Favier Explosives. NAPHTHALIT.—A German chlorate explosive introduced during the War. It contains not more than 80 per cent. of potassium chlorate, and aromatic hydrocarbons, such as naphthalene, and not more than 12 per cent. of nitro-hydrocarbons, but no trinitro-compounds; also paraffins, fatty oils, flour or other organic substance. It may contain also alkali chlorides, and not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine. The prefixes Gesteins- and Wetter- are applied according as the explosive is intended for rock or coal mines. Grisou-NAPHTALITE. See FAVIER Explosives. NATIONALITE.—A coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite class made by the National Explosives Co., Ltd. The composition, which was on the old Permitted List, was—
But to pass the Rotherham Test it was necessary to add alkali chlorides. There were two formulÆ formerly on the Permitted List—
The permits have been repealed. *N.C.T. is the name given in the British service to the Nitro-Cellulose Tubular smokeless powder, made in the same way as the American service powder. It consists of nitro-cellulose completely soluble in ether-alcohol, but of N.E. See New Explosives Company’s Smokeless Powder.
To enable it to pass the Rotherham Test, sodium chloride has been added, and Negro Powder No. 2 is now on the Permitted List—
NEONAL.—A coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Company. Two formulÆ were at one time on the Permitted List—
Both have now been repealed. *NEONITE.—A 30-grain bulk gelatinised smokeless shot-gun powder introduced by the New Explosives Co. in 1907. According to an analysis given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76, its composition is—
Neonites are also made for various types of rifled small arms, including military rifles, cadet rifles, revolvers and rim-fire rifles. These are all nitrocellulose powders with or without moderants.
NEW FORTEX. See
NITROLIT.—A high explosive used by the Germans for filling shell. It is a mixture of ammonium nitrate and trinitro-anisol. The name was formerly given by C. Lamm of Stockholm to a blasting explosive containing blasting gelatine, ammonium nitrate and other substances. NITRO LOW-FLAME, NOS. 1 and 2 are American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. They are nitroglycerine mixtures. NOBEL AMMONIA POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive which was on the old Permitted List—
NOBEL GELATINE DYNAMITE.} NOBELIT is a German blasting explosive containing blasting gelatine, carbonaceous substances, inorganic nitrates and sodium or potassium chloride. AMMON-NOBELIT contains ammonium nitrate, and the proportion of blasting gelatine is limited to 4 per cent. It may contain sodium or potassium oxalate, and various other substances that are not present in Nobelit. *NORMAL POWDER.—A smokeless powder which was said to have been adopted by the Governments of Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. The following analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 91—
NORMANITE.—A coal-mine explosive which was made by the Cotton Powder Co., and was on the old Permitted List—
Explosifs O are the chlorate explosives made in the French State factories. O1, O2, O4 and O5 are Cheddites (q. v.). O3 is a Sprengel explosive, and is dealt with under the heading of PromÉthÉe. OAKLEY QUARRY POWDER is a blasting explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate and tetryl. OAKLITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd., which was on the old Permitted List—
OPHORITE.—A mild but hot explosive consisting of—
It is used as a bursting charge for incendiary shell, smoke bombs, etc. ORKANIT is the same as Alkalsit, but may contain sodium chloride and similar salts. OXYLIQUIT is a blasting explosive consisting of liquid oxygen absorbed in some porous combustile material, such as absorbent cork, soot or kieselguhr mixed with petroleum. It was discovered in 1895 by Prof. F. C. Linde, and was tried on a large scale in 1899 in the construction of the Simplon tunnel. It is very cheap, and is safe in the case of a missfire, because in about half-an-hour the oxygen has all evaporated off and the charge becomes inexplosive. On the other hand, it is necessary to have the air liquefying plant near the scene of operations, and the charge must be fired soon after charging. These disadvantages prevented the adoption of the explosive, but during the War fresh trials were made in Germany in consequence of the scarcity of nitrates. Liquid oxygen explosives are now used on a considerable scale by the Germans for military, as well as civil blasting operations. The name Oxyliquit, however, seems only to be applied to them when the explosive is made in the manner and with the plant of the Linde Company. See also Marsit. PANNONIT.—A blasting explosive made by the A. G. Dynamit Nobel of Austria. It has replaced Progressit in Austria as a coal-mine explosive. Its composition is—
PASTANIL.—A German ammonium nitrate blasting explosive similar to Plastammon. *P.C/88.—A Swiss smokeless powder for small-arms consisting of—
PERAGON.—A German blasting explosive containing potassium perchlorate, zinc-aluminium alloy, aromatic nitrocompounds and some other constituents. PERCHLORIT is a German blasting explosive introduced recently. It contains ammonium nitrate, a perchlorate, mono- and dinitro-compounds, meal, charcoal, and not more than 4 per cent. of nitroglycerine. PERDIT.—An explosive used by the Germans for mining and demolitions and rifle grenades. It consists of—
PERILIT.—A German perchlorate blasting explosive made by the Koeln-Rottweil Pulverfabriken. It contains not more than 65 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, aromatic nitro-compounds, not more than 6 per cent. of dinitro-chlorhydrin, flour, etc., and nitrates (but not more than 10 per cent. of potassium nitrate). PERKORONIT. See Koronit. PERMON POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive which was on the Permitted List. It was made by the Carbonite Syndicate in Germany, and imported into Great Britain—
The permit was repealed on 21-11-16. PERMONITE.—A potassium perchlorate explosive made by the Carbonite Syndicate at Schlebusch in Germany. A number of mixtures have been placed on the market, but they do not differ from one another very much. One which was on the old British Permitted List was—
See also Gesteins Leonit. PERRUMPIT.—A German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, vegetable meal, fatty oils, graphite and aluminium, cooling agents such as ammonium oxalate or sodium chloride, and not more than 15 per cent. of trinitro-toluene. PERSALIT is a German perchlorate explosive made by the WestfÄlisch-Anhaltische Sprengstoff A.-G. It contains not more than 77 per cent. of an alkali or alkali earth perchlorate, organic matter such as hydrocarbons, resins, meal or nitrated hydrocarbons (with the proviso that if the percentage of perchlorate exceed 70, there must not be more than 10 per cent. of trinitro-toluene). There must also be not less than 4 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, and there may be an addition of sodium nitrate or other salt that does not increase the sensitiveness.
It is more powerful than ordinary blasting powder, and somewhat less sensitive to blows. This explosive is also made in Switzerland. PETROLIT is a German chlorate explosive introduced during the War. It contains not more than 88 per cent. of potassium chlorate, nitro-compounds, kerosene, and neutral salts. (This is rather a dangerous mixture.—A.M.) PFALZIT.—A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, not more than 13 per cent. of trinitro-toluene, not more than 1 per cent. of collodion cotton, meal, sodium chloride, etc. PHŒNIX POWDER.—A German coal-mine explosive made by Dr. R. Nahnsen and Co., of Hamburg. It passed the Woolwich Test and was on the old Permitted List.
PIERRITE.—A form of Cheddite which was made at Gamsee, near Brig, for excavating the Simplon tunnel—
In order to pass the Rotherham Test, the composition was modified to the following, No. 2, which was formerly on the Permitted List—
PITSEA POWDER NO. 2 was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the British Explosives Syndicate, Ltd.—
The permit has been repealed. Steinkohlen-PLASTAMMON is a variation of this, containing not more than 25 per cent. of potassium nitrate, and intended for use in coal mines. *PLASTOMENIT was an early German shot-gun powder which possessed no great merits. The following was the composition of a sample examined in 1893, and given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 90—
PLASTROTYL.—A German high explosive for filling shell. It consists of a partially liquid mixture of trinitro- and dinitro-toluene gelatinised by means of not more than 0·5 per cent. of collodion cotton, and mixed with a small quantity of turpentine or soft resin. It does not appear to be in use now. PLESSIT is a blasting explosive that was introduced in Germany during the War. It consists of potassium chlorate, not more than 9·5 per cent. of kerosene and 0·5 per cent. of albumen. Wetter-Plessit III. contains sodium chloride as well. PNIOWIT.—A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, trinitro-toluene, wood meal and a small percentage of potassium perchlorate. Nobel POLARITE is a blasting explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd. It consists of potassium perchlorate, and nitroglycerine mixed with a nitro-compound and gelatinised with collodion cotton, and absorbed in wood meal. Poudres
the last constituent being a fine powdery substance obtained from dried horse dung. It is slower than ordinary blasting powder and more expensive. It has a tendency to blow out, and opinions as to its value vary. Formerly it was supplied in the form of a fine powder, but it is now granulated or made into compressed cartridges. *PRIMROSE SMOKELESS is an inexpensive 42-grain bulk powder for shot-guns made by the New Explosives Co.
It was superseded in 1913 by Pannonit.
Any combination of a, b or c with 1 or 2 may be used. The amount of liquid combustible taken up may vary from 8 to 13 per cent.: this irregularity is a serious defect, and may cause incomplete detonation. This explosive is also made in Italy. PROSPERIT is a German ammonium nitrate explosive, containing also vegetable meal, nitro-compounds and other constituents. It may contain up to 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine. Gelatine-Prosperit contains also up to 20 per cent. of dinitro-chlorhydrin gelatinised with collodion cotton. PULVÉRIN.—An ungranulated black powder made in France for use in fireworks, etc. PULVÉRITE.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive containing perchlorate—
The “charge limite” is 850 grammes, equivalent to 504 grammes of Dynamite No. 1. PYROCOLLODION is a nitrocotton almost entirely soluble in ether-alcohol, and of comparatively high nitration. It contains about 12·5 to 12·7 per cent. of nitrogen, and consequently has about enough oxygen to oxidise all its hydrogen to water, and its carbon to the monoxide. It was first prepared by MendelÉeff for the Russian smokeless powder, and was afterwards adopted by the United States for their present powder. PYROXILINE was a name formerly given to nitro-cellulose. RASCHIT is a blasting explosive consisting entirely of salts readily soluble in water, invented by F. Raschig. The incorporation is carried out by dissolving the constituents in water, and evaporating the solution rapidly on a rotating steam-heated drum. The oxidising substance is ammonium or sodium nitrate, and the combustible is the sodium salt of an organic sulphonate or the residue obtained from the manufacture of wood cellulose.
No. II. is the only one made at present. R.D.B. (Research Department B). See RED CROSS explosives are American dynamites containing some nitro-toluene or other substance to make the nitroglycerine low-freezing. RED H, Nos. 1 to 7 are American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. They are ammonium nitrate mixtures. *RED STAR is a 33-grain bulk smokeless powder for shot-guns, introduced in 1906 by the New Explosives Co. According to an analysis given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76, its composition is—
RENDROCK.—A brand of American dynamite. REX POWDER is a coal-mine explosive made by the Cotton Powder Co. It is on the Permitted List, and is used to a considerable extent—
REXITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Co., which was on the old Permitted List. It is no longer “permitted.”
REXOL.—A high explosive containing ammonium perchlorate, zinc dust, resin and mineral oil. R.F.G. (Rifled Fine Grain) } black powders made for rifles Wetter-Rhenanit is for use in coal mines, and contains also sodium chloride. Rhenanit V., which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is similar to Astralit V. RHEXIT.—An Austrian dynamite.
*RIFLEITE was a completely gelatinised smokeless powder which was made by the Smokeless Powder Co.; it was in the form of flakes. A variety was also introduced for use in shot-guns and was called Shot-Gun Rifleite; this was a 37-grain gelatinised dense powder.
The nitrocellulose was made from lignin. These analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 77. RIPPING AMMONAL. See
SUPER-RIPPITE is a modification of this, which has passed the Rotherham Test and is on the Permitted List—
RIVALIT is a German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, vegetable meal, nitro-compounds, and may also contain up to 3 per cent. of blasting gelatine. Rivalit P, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is practically the same as Astralit V. Chlorat-Rivalit is an explosive of the Cheddite type, introduced in Germany during the War—
but some are outside them. The explosive has also been made in England by the Roburite Explosives Co., Ltd., now incorporated in Roburite
The following has passed the Rotherham Test and is now on the Permitted List—
ROCKITE is an explosive made by Curtis’s and Harvey for quarry work, etc. ROMPERIT.—A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, trinitro-toluene, flour and resin. It may also contain up to 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine. Wetter-Romperit contains also sodium chloride, ammonium chloride or magnesite, and is used in coal mines. Gelatine-Romperit contains gelatinised nitroglycerine, glycerine, potato meal, etc., and nitrates, and may also contain aromatic nitro-compounds and alkali nitrates. Romperit G, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is similar to Astralit V. ROSLIN GIANT BLASTING POWDER is a perchlorate explosive made by Curtis’s and Harvey. *ROTTWEIL SMOKELESS POWDERS.—These were pushed energetically in England in 1913. They comprised a gelatinised rifle powder, and a 37-grain gelatinised dense shot-gun powder. Analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 90—
*RUBY POWDER.—- A 42-grain bulk smokeless powder, for shot-guns, introduced in 1899 by Curtis’s and Harvey. The following analysis was given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917—
It is an inexpensive powder made without solvents. RUSSELITE.—A coal-mine explosive which was made by the Forcite Co. in Belgium. It was on the old British Permitted List—
*
SABULITE is a blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, trinitro-toluene and calcium silicide. The last constituent increases the heat of explosion and renders the mixture more sensitive both to detonation and to blows; it plays the same part as the aluminium powder in Ammonal.
This composition was modified by the Belgian Sabulite Co. to render it suitable for use in coal mines: by introducing some potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride it was able to pass the tests, and obtain a place on the list of “explosifs S.G.P.”—
Sabulite has been used as a military high explosive.
During the War potassium nitrate was replaced by sodium nitrate, and the nitroglycerine was reduced to 50 per cent. Nos. 2 and 3 have passed the Rotherham Test and are on the Permitted List—
SAXONITE was the predecessor of Samsonite on the old Permitted List. It has practically the same composition, but wide limits are allowed. It also is used for general purposes. During the War potassium nitrate was replaced by sodium nitrate. Ammon-SCHLESIT or Kohlen-SCHLESIT is a German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate and other nitrates, nitro-compounds, starch, neutral salts, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, and not more than 2 per cent. of potassium perchlorate. SCHNEIDERITE is a high explosive used by the French for filling shell. Its composition is the same as the Favier explosive N1c. *
The nitrocellulose in all cases has been made from wood cellulose. All the powders are of the bulk type. Schultze powder is also made in America as a 36-grain fibrous bulk powder—
SEAMEX is a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd.—
SECUROPHORE.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive containing nitroglycerine, nitrates, flour and other constituents. SENGITE is a variety of Tonite introduced in South Africa as a substitute for Gelignite in consequence of the scarcity of glycerine due to the War. It contains guncotton and sodium nitrate, and sufficient moisture to render it safe to handle without diminishing its strength. The first four letters of its name stand for substitute explosive no glycerine. It requires a priming cartridge of gelignite or similar explosive. It is more expensive than gelignite, and consequently is not likely to be used when the scarcity of glycerine has been relieved. SHEPPEY POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Cotton Powder Co. which was on the Permitted List for a short time, but was removed in 1914—
It is practically the same as Steelite. *S.K., S.R., S.S., S.V. were partially gelatinised fibrous smokeless powders, introduced by the Smokeless Powder Co. about 1889. They are no longer made. The following analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 77—
The nitrocellulose was made from lignin. S.S. was a 38-grain bulk powder; S.R. was a fibrous powder for rifles; S.K. a similar powder for small rifles, and S.V. for revolvers.
*SOLENITE.—A smokeless powder introduced in Italy in 1896 for use in rifles—
It is gelatinised with the aid of acetone, and is made in the form of translucent short tubes of a light brown colour. SPRENGCHLORAT. See Hassia-Chlorat. SPRENGEL EXPLOSIVES were patented in 1871 by Dr. Hermann Sprengel, F.R.S., the inventor of the mercury vacuum pump. They are made by mixing an oxidising substance with a combustible one, the essential features being that one or both of the substances must be liquid, and the mixing takes place shortly before the explosive is required. The mixture is exploded by means of a fulminate detonator. As oxidising agents, Sprengel mentioned amongst others nitric acid and potassium chlorate; nitrogen peroxide has also been used; as combustibles, a large number of substances including nitro-benzene, nitro-naphthalene, carbon bisulphide, petroleum and picric acid. For most purposes nitric acid is an inconvenient material to use. Porous cartridges of potassium chlorate constitute the oxidiser generally employed, the combustibles being hydrocarbon oils and nitro-benzene. For examples of Sprengel explosives see Panclastite, PromÉthÉe, Rack-a-Rock. SPRENGGELATINE is the German for Blasting Gelatine. SPRENGSALPETER is a cheap German blasting powder made from sodium nitrate, sulphur and brown coal. It is used in the potash mines. STABILITE is a name that has been given to trinitro-anisole. It has been tried as a constituent of a smokeless powder, but it belies its title as it is readily hydrolysed with the formation of picric acid. It has also been used by the Germans as a filling for bombs. STANFORD POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive of the Favier class which was on the Permitted List for a short time in 1913.
Steelite is no longer authorised for manufacture or import into the United Kingdom.
STOMONAL is a coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List. In order to pass the Rotherham Test and obtain places on the new Permitted List, No. 1 and No. 2 have had salts added as cooling agents—
STONAX is a low-freezing Gelignite containing a small percentage of a nitro-compound. STOW-ITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List—
*STOWMARKET SMOKELESS is a 33-grain bulk powder for shot-guns made by the New Explosives Co. It is a comparatively inexpensive powder. SUNDERITE was a coal-mine explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd., at one time on the Permitted List—
SUPER-CLIFFITE. See SUPER-CURTISITE. See SUPERITE.—A coal-mine explosive which was made by the Carbonite Company in Germany, and formerly on the Permitted List—
The Permit was repealed on 21-11-16. SUPER-KOLAX. See SUPER-RIPPITE. See SWALE POWDER was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by the Cotton Powder Co., Ltd.—
The permit has been repealed.
SYNDITE.—A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List. It was made by the Carbonite Syndicate in Germany—
The permit was repealed on 21-9-16. * Gelatine-Telsit contains ammonium nitrate, blasting gelatine and liquid trinitro-toluene, also gelatinised with collodion cotton. Special-Gelatine-Telsit differs from this in having part of the ammonium nitrate replaced by sodium nitrate. TERRIT is a plastic blasting explosive made in Sweden, and consisting of ammonium perchlorate, sodium nitrate and liquid dinitro-toluene, gelatinised with collodion cotton—
It is difficult to detonate. It is used extensively as an intermediate detonating agent for high-explosive shell, as it is somewhat more sensitive than most of the explosives used, and can consequently be detonated by a small charge of fulminate. It is also called C. E. Grisou-TETRILITE. See Favier Powder. TEUTONIT is a German Favier explosive containing not less than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, not more than 5 per cent. of flour or potato meal, and not more than 15 per cent. of aromatic nitro- and dinitro-compounds. It may also contain neutral salts. TEUTONITE was a name given occasionally to White Gunpowder (q. v.). THAMES POWDER is a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by the British Explosives Syndicate, Ltd.—
THERMIT is not an explosive, although in some respects it resembles one. It generally consists of a mixture of about three parts oxide of iron with one part of aluminium powder, but other oxides and other metals are sometimes used. When initiated by strong heat in one place a reaction sets in with great evolution of heat and the formation of a white-hot mass of molten iron and slag. It differs from an explosive in that no gas is formed and the reaction is comparatively slow. It is used for filling incendiary bombs and for many industrial purposes. THORNIT.—A German blasting explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate and vegetable meal. It may also contain animal or vegetable fats. TITANITE.—A coal-mine explosive manufactured in Hungary. A variety of it was on the old British Permitted List—
Other varieties containing a smaller percentage of ammonium nitrate have been used for general blasting. T.N.T. stands for trinitro-toluene or trotyl. TOLITE stands for trinitro-toluene.
That made by the Cotton Powder Co. consists of—
Ammon-Tremonit or Gesteins-Tremonit contains a considerable proportion of ammonium nitrate. Gesteins-Tremonit V. contains also up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is similar to Astralit V. TRINOL.—A name for trinitro-toluene. TRIPLASTIT was a plastic high explosive obtained by gelatinising a liquid or semi-liquid mixture of nitro-toluenes with collodion cotton and mixing it with lead nitrates, e.g.—
It was intended for filling shell, etc. *TROISDORF SMOKELESS POWDER became prominent in England in 1897 in connection with Mannlicher cartridges for the Bisley long-range competitions. It was occasionally recorded as Pigou Wilkes Powder, as that firm were agents for it. The following are analyses of samples taken in 1898 (“Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 90)—
The shot-gun powder was a fibrous bulk powder, and the charge for a 12-bore cartridge was 33 grains. The rifle powder was gelatinised. TROJAN COAL POWDER is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It contains nitro-starch. TROTYL is a name for trinitro-toluene. TUNNELIT is a German safety explosive containing ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, not more than 10 per cent. of trinitro-toluene (or not more than 6 per cent. together with not more than 2 per cent. of neutral liquid trinitro-toluene), not more than 20 per cent. of dinitro-chlorhydrin, not more than 5 per cent. of nitroglycerine, not more than 1 per cent. of collodion cotton, and carbohydrates. TUNNELITE is an American coal-mine explosive on the
UPLEES POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite type made by the Cotton Powder Co. It was for a time on the Permitted List but was repealed in 1914. VELOX GELATINE.—A blasting explosive for hard rock made by the British South African Explosives Co. It contains less nitroglycerine than blasting gelatine, and is intended to husband stocks of glycerine (“Arms and Explosives,” 1916, p. 81). Gelatine VENDER is a Swiss explosive consisting of dinitro-acetin gelatinised with a little collodion cotton and mixed with ammonium nitrate.
VICTORITE.—A coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type made by Nobel’s Explosives Co. It was on the old Permitted List. VIEILLE POWDER. See Poudre B. VIGORITE is a name that has been given to several explosives in the past. One of these, manufactured in California in the ’seventies of the last century, contained potassium chlorate and nitroglycerine, and consequently was decidedly dangerous. It gave rise to a serious accident on the Grand Trunk Railway. The Atlas Powder Co. in America manufacture a series of coal-mine explosives under this name. They are nitroglycerine explosives.
This explosive is used extensively. VIRITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Nitrate Explosives Co. which was on the old Permitted List—
There have been other explosives of the same name. VULCAN POWDER is a brand of American dynamite. W.A. See Lafflin and Rand. WALLONITE.—A Belgian blasting and coal-mine explosive—
*WALSRODE SHOT-GUN POWDER was a gelatinised 28-grain dense powder, which the German makers endeavoured to introduce into England in the ’nineties, but it gave high pressures. A powder of this name is still used in Germany, however, but it is a 35-grain powder in the form of small grains, greyish white and greyish green in colour. WALSRODE SICHERHEITS-SPRENGSTOFF is a German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate, trinitro-toluene, flour, and a little guncotton and sometimes sodium chloride. Wetter-Walsrode is also an ammonium nitrate explosive. It contains no guncotton but may contain potassium nitrate, sodium chloride, naphthalene, and various other substances. British Westfalite, Ltd., had two mixtures on the old Permitted List—
That formerly on the Permitted List differed considerably from the above—
WETTERDYNAMIT is a name that has been given in Germany to various coal-mine explosives containing nitroglycerine. WETTER-DYNAMMON. See *WETTEREN.—A gelatinised rifle smokeless powder made by the Cooppal Co. of Belgium. The following analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 91—
WHITE GUNPOWDER is a mixture of—
It is not produced commercially, and, indeed, is too sensitive, but it is sometimes made in the laboratory. It has also been called Angendre’s powder, White German powder, American powder, and Baron and Cauvet’s powder. WILHELMIT is a German blasting explosive of the Cheddite type. It consists of sodium or potassium chlorate hydrocarbon oil with a flash point not below 30° C., and carbohydrates. For use in coal mines neutral salts are added. It was introduced during the War. WITHNELL POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite type made by the Lancashire Explosives Co., which was on the old Permitted List—
WITTENBERGER WETTERDYNAMIT. See YONCKITE.—A Belgian ammonium perchlorate explosive.
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