*CRYSTALis 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.
C.S.P.2(Chilworth Smokeless Powder, No. 2) is a modification ofCordite, containing a little sodium bicarbonate as a stabiliser. It is stated to have been adopted by the Brazilian navy (see “Engineering” for August 18, 1911, p. 237) and other powers.
CUGNITE.—A French blasting explosive manufactured by the Société Française des Explosifs—
CURTISITE.—A coal-mine explosive of theGrisouniteclass made by Curtis’s and Harvey. It was formerly on the Permitted List—
SUPER-CURTISITEwas a modification of the above to enable it to pass the Rotherham Test—
The permit has been repealed.
DAHMENITEis 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 ofSecuriteand 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.
DENSITE.—A Belgian blasting explosive containing one or more of the following nitrates: ammonium, strontium, sodium, potassium; also trinitro-toluene, and sometimes dinitro-toluene and ammoniumchloride. This explosive is practically the same asNitralite. Varieties have been made for use in coal mines.See alsoNitro-densite.
DETONIT V.—A German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate, charcoal, vegetable meal, neutral salts, and not more than 4 per cent. ofblasting gelatine.
DETONITE SPECIALis 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. ofblasting gelatine.
DOMINIT XVIII, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is practically the same asAstralit V.
DONARITis a German blasting explosive of theGrisoutinetype made by the Carbonite Co. of Hamburg. As a standard for the sensitiveness of ammonium nitrate explosives, the Imperial German Railway Commission use Donarit of the composition—
and this may be taken as the usual composition of the explosive, but the nitroglycerine is sometimes gelatinised with collodion cotton.
DONARIT Acontains 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 asAstralit 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 ofDonarit, and may also contain sodium nitrate.
DORFITis a German coal-mine explosive made by the firm of Allendorf—
ALDORFITis a simpler mixture intended for use where there is no danger of fire-damp—
It is authorised in Great Britain.
PERDORFITcontains 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—
DUXITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Westphalia Anhalt Explosives Co. It passed the Rotherham Test, and was for a time on the British Permitted List—
Sicherheits Gallerte-DYNAMIT.—A German coal-mine explosive—
Wettersicheres Gelatine-DYNAMIT.—A German coal-mine explosive—
DYNAMITEis a name that has been given to various nitroglycerine explosives. Dynamite No. 1 consists of—
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.
InGelatine Dynamitethe nitroglycerine is gelatinised with collodion cotton. See underGelatine.
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.
DYNAMMON.—The coal-mine explosive provided by the Austrian State monopoly—
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. POWDERwas 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—
The powder is manufactured at Green Street Green, near Dartford in Kent. The name is derived from “Explosives Company.”
ECHOorEKKOis 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 POWDERis a 42-grain bulk powder for shot-guns, made by the E.C. Powder Company.
ECRASITEorEKRASITis 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 POWDERis a shot-gun powder similar toE.C.
Ammon-ELSAGITis 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. ofblasting gelatine, and may also contain fatty oils, alkali chlorides or oxalate, and sodium or potassium nitrate.
Gesteins-ELSAGIThas much the same composition, but the percentage of trinitro-toluene may be raised to 12, and it contains no sodium or potassium nitrate.
*EMPIRE POWDERis 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.—AGelignitecontaining 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. 2is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It contains nitroglycerine and a hydrated salt.
EXCELLITE.—A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List—
SUPER-EXCELLITEis a modification of this, containing salts as cooling agents. Three formulæ passed the Rotherham Test—
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.
EXPEDITEis a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd.—
See alsoXPDITE.
EXPLOSIFS N,O, etc. See under respective letters.
EXTRA DYNAMITEis a variety of American dynamite containing ammonium nitrate.
FAVERSHAM POWDERis a coal-mine explosive of theGrisounitetype made by the Cotton Powder Co. The mixture, which was on the old Permitted List, had the composition—
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.
FAVIERexplosives consist essentially of ammonium nitrate mixed with nitro-compounds. Favier took out patents in 1884 and 1885 for mixtures of ammonium nitrate with mononitro-naphthalene, paraffin and resin. Their manufacture was undertaken soon afterwards by the French Government, and is still continued under the names of Explosifs N, or Explosifs Favier or Grisounites. Their composition has been varied from time to time, but the following are those now authorised—
The Grisounites-couche are used in the coal seams as they have theoretical temperatures of explosion of 1500° or less, but N1a has been replaced to a considerable extent by N4, because the presence of a proportion of potassium nitrate is found to increase the safety; these are both coloured green. The Grisounites-roche have theoretical temperatures of explosion of 1900° or less, and are used in the rocks in coal mines. N1b is dyed rose colour, and N1c pale yellow.
Many explosives of this type are in use in different countries. On the old British Permitted List wereAmmonite,Westfalite,BelliteandRoburiteamongst 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 PowderandNegro Powder.
On the Belgian list of Explosifs S.G.P. is Favier II bis—
FAVORIT. SeeKORONIT.
*FELIXITEis 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—
*FILITEwas a smokeless powder formerly used in the Italian services. It was aBallistiteconsisting generally of equal parts of nitroglycerine and collodion cotton, to which 0·5 to 1 per cent. ofaniline or diphenylamine was added as a stabiliser. It was gelatinised with a solvent and drawn out into cords.
FLAMMIVORE.—A Belgian coal-mine explosive made at Arendonck—
In the United Kingdom this is “authorised” but not “permitted” for use in dangerous mines.
FLOBERTammunition 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 toAstralit V.
FORCITE.—A variety ofgelatine dynamiteorgelignitemade in Belgium. It containsblasting gelatine36 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 theCarbonitetype—
FORTEX.—A coal-mine explosive made by Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd. The mixture, which was on the old Permitted List, was—
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.—
FUEL-ITE.—There is a series of coal-mine explosives of this name on the American Permissible List. Nos. 1 and 2 are nitroglycerine explosives of theCarbonitetype. No. 3 is an ammonium nitrate explosive.
FUELLPULVER(orFP.) is the name given by the Germans to mixtures of trinitro-toluene and ammonium nitrate used for filling shell. Fp. 60/40, for instance, is a mixture of 60 parts trinitro-toluene and 40 parts of ammonium nitrate, and is consequently the same asAmatol 40/60. Fp. without figures stands for trinitro-toluene.
*FULMEN POWDERis 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-FULMENITis 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 theGrisouniteclass. According to an analysis given in Cundill and Thomson’s Dictionary it consisted of—
GEHLINGERIT.—A German blasting explosive. Gesteins-Gehlingerit III. contains—
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 ofblasting gelatineand ammonium nitrate.
GELATINE DYNAMITEis a mixture ofblasting gelatine, potassium nitrate and a little wood meal. That made in Britain must contain between 70 and 77 per cent. of nitroglycerine; it may contain up to 2 per cent. of calcium or magnesium carbonate, or 1/2 per cent. of mineral jelly as a stabiliser. The following may be taken as an example of its composition—
In America brands are made of 35 to 80 per cent. strength.
GELIGNITEis similar toGelatine Dynamiteexcept that it contains a smaller proportion of blasting gelatine; in Britain the percentage of nitroglycerine must be between 56 and 63,e. g.—
There are also a number of modified Gelignites, which either contain sodium or barium nitrate in partial or entire replacement of the potassium nitrate, or else contain some substance to reduce the freezing point of the nitroglycerine and so diminish the danger of freezing, such as dinitro- or trinitro-toluene or dinitro-glycol.
GESILIT.—A German coal-mine explosive made by Nahnsen. It containsblasting 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 POWDERSare 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 POWDERis 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.
GLONOINEwas an early name for nitroglycerine.
GLUECKAUF.—A German explosive of theGrisounitetype consisting of ammonium nitrate and vegetable meal, to which might be added any of the following: sugar, resin, fatty oil, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, dinitro-benzene, ammonium oxalate, copper oxalate, copper nitrate ammonia, or sodium chloride. It was used for a time by several potash mines; was given up again by most of them.
GOOD LUCKwas 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. SeeFuellpulver. Other substances used in German shell and bombs are trinitro-anisole, dinitro-benzene, hexanitro-diphenylamine and hexanitro-diphenyl sulphide, otherwise picryl sulphide.
GRISOUNITE.—A French coal-mine explosive. SeeFAVIERExplosives.
GRISOUTINEorGRISOU-DYNAMINEis the only explosive except Grisounite allowed in the more dangerous French coal mines. It consists of ammonium nitrate mixed withblasting gelatine. As the State monopoly does not extend to explosives containing nitroglycerine, it is made by private firms, but the compositions are regulated by the “Commission des Substances Explosives,” which in 1911 resolved that they should be uniformly as follows—
The calculated temperatures of explosion of the Grisoutines couches are below 1500°, and those of the Grisoutines roches below 1900°. The addition of 5 per cent. of potassium nitrate is found to increase the safety.
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 ofMonobel,Super-ExcelliteandMonarkite. German explosives of this sort includeSalit,Tremonit,Donarit,Ammon-KarbonitandAstralit.
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.SeeBLACK POWDER.
*HALAKITEattracted 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.According to patent specification, No. 685 of 1915, the basis of the explosive was an admixture of lead nitrate with glycerine and other substances, and under the working conditions the glycerine was said to react with the nitrate to form a nitro-compound, which, of course, is not true. The substance actually submitted to the British and French authorities consisted ofcorditemixed with lead nitrate, barium nitrate and lead chromate. This was stated by the promoters to be equally effective as a high explosive and a propellant! See “Interim and Final Reports of the Army Council (Halakite) Inquiry,” Cd. 8446.
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 toAstralit V.
HALOKLASTIT.SeePETROKLASTIT.
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.
HASSIA-CHLORATis an explosive that was introduced in Germany during the War. It consists of 65 per cent. potassium chlorate and 35 per cent. combustible, and it is claimed that the large proportion of the latter not only makes it a mild explosive, but also renders it comparatively insensitive. It is also called Spreng-chlorat.
HAYLITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the National Explosives Co. There were three varieties on the Permitted List: No. 1 was also on the old Permitted List, but has now been repealed.
H.E.stands for High Explosive, used for charging shell or other military purpose.
*HEBLER POWDERwas a so-called smokeless powder which was manufactured at one time in Switzerland. According to an analysis published by Cundill and Thomson, it was ordinary gunpowder in which about a fifth of the saltpetre had been replaced by ammonium nitrate. It did not appear to have a greater tendency to absorb moisture than ordinary powder. It was also called Wellite. See alsoAmmonpulver.
HECLA NO. 2is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is an ammonium nitrate explosive made by the Du Pont Co.