Chapter 6

HECLA POWDERis a brand of American dynamite.

HELAGONis a German perchlorate explosive made by the Köln-Rottweil Pulverfabriken. It contains not more than 10 per cent.of potassium perchlorate, not more than 5 per cent. of zinc-aluminium alloy, aromatic nitro-bodies and neutral nitrates, excepting those of potassium and barium. It may also contain flour or potato meal and neutral substances.

HELITis a similar explosive toHelagon, except that it contains dinitro-chlorhydrin, not more than 6 per cent., in the place of the zinc-aluminium alloy.

HELLHOFITE}HELLITE} are different names for what is practically the same explosive of the Sprengel type. It consists of a mixture of strong nitric acid and various nitro-compounds,e.g.—

A form of this explosive was tried by Gruson as a charge for shell many years ago. See alsoPanclastite.

*HENRITEis 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but the permit has been repealed.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 stiffblasting gelatinemade 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. 2is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is a nitroglycerine explosive.

*IDEAL POWDERis a shot-gun powder made by Nobels.

IMPERIALITEis 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 Imperialiwas killed. The composition of the explosive that was being made is not known, but several of the mixtures for which Imperiali had taken out patents were decidedly dangerous.

*INDURITEwas 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.

INGÉLITEis the same in composition asANTIGEL DE SÛRETÉ.

*PoudreJ.—A French smokeless powder used for shot-guns and revolvers. Its composition is—

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 isheated beyond the melting-point of the sulphur and resin. The slightly porous mass thus formed is then coated with nitroglycerine. The explosive is fired with a priming cartridge of dynamite. The following four grades are made by the Du Pont Co.—

KANITE Ais an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is an ammonium nitrate explosive.

KARBONIT.SeeCARBONITE.

KAUSOLIT.—An ammonium perchlorate explosive, introduced about 1915 by the Stockholm Superphosphaten-fabriks A.-b.

KENT POWDERwas a coal-mine explosive made by the Cotton Powder Co. It was of theCarbonitetype and was on the Permitted List. It is now no longer “permitted.”

KENTITEis 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”—

KIESELBACHER CHLORATSPRENGSTOFF.SeeMIEDZIANKIT.

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.SeeCARBONITE.

KOLAX.—A coal-mine explosive of theCarbonitetype formerly on the Permitted List, made by Curtis’s and Harvey—

SUPER-KOLAXwas a modification of this to meet the requirements of the Rotherham Test—

The permits of both have been repealed.

KORONIT, also known asFAVORIT, is a German chlorate blasting explosive introduced during the War. See alsoCoronite.

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. ofblasting 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. ofblasting gelatineand not more than 4 per cent. of powdered coal.

PERKORONITis similar toKoronitexcept 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—-

KYNARKITEis a coal-mine explosive of theCarbonitetype made by Kynoch, Ltd. It is no longer on the Permitted List—

KYNITEwas a coal-mine explosive on the old Permitted List, but has been superseded by Kynarkite—

*LAFFLIN AND RAND W.A.was a tubular smokeless powder tried in America for small arms. It consisted of—

gelatinised by means of 40 parts of acetone. A gelatinised dense shot-gun powder of similar composition was also made.

L.C. PULVERis a GermanCheddite.

Gesteins-LEONITis a German perchlorate explosive for blasting rock—

It is practically the same as Permonit A.

Neu-LEONITis a modification of this for use in coal

It is practically the same asWetter-Persalit.

LIGDYNis 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. SeeSchultze Powder.

LIGNOSITis 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. ofblasting gelatineand 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.

LITHOFRACTEURis 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.

LOEWENPULVERor 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. 1is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is a low-grade dynamite containing hydrated salts.

LOWINITE NO. 2-Bis 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.

*PoudreMis a shot-gun powder made by the French Government, and is the one that is most used in France. Its composition is—

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.SeeSILESIA.

MARSIT.—A sort of Oxyliquit. Liquid oxygen is passed into a linen bag containing soot.

M.B. POWDER(Modernised Black) is ablack powdermixture 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 makingMitchellite. During manufacture the composition is heated in steam boilers. (See “Arms and Explosives,” 1911, p. 7.)

M.D.SeeCORDITE.

MEGANITis 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.

MÉLINITEis 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 POWDERwas a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the Cotton Powder Co. The permit has been repealed.

MERCURITis 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 POWDERwas a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the Cotton Powder Co. The permit has been repealed.

METEOR AXXOis an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is a low-grade dynamite containing a hydrated salt.

MIEDZIANKIT(also called Egelit or Kieselbacher Chloratsprengstoff) is a German chlorate explosive of the Sprengel class. It consists of porous potassium chlorate impregnated with not more than 10 per cent. of kerosene, having a flash point not below 30° C. It has met with some unfavourable reports, as it is found that results are not uniform unless the impregnation be carried out in special factories, the original idea having been that it was to be done shortly before use.

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 withKohlen-carboniteand Colinite antigrisouteuse.

MINER’S FRIEND, NOS. 1 to 6.American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. They are ammonium nitrate explosives.

MINITE.—A coal-mine explosive of theGrisounitetype which was on the old Permitted List—

There was also an explosive of theCarbonitetype of this name made at Arendonck in Belgium—

MIN-ITE.—American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. Brands A, A-2, B, and B-2 are nitroglycerine explosives, whereas Nos. 5-D and 6-D are ammonium nitrate mixtures.

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.

*MISCHPULVERis a name given in German to ungelatinised smokeless nitro-cellulose powders.

MITCHELLITEwas an explosive that was formerly licensed for manufacture in Great Britain, and was made at Bonnybridge, Stirling, but the factory and the licence were transferred to the M.B. Powder Co. in 1910. It was apparently a chlorate or perchlorate explosive. It is said to be manufactured at Monticello, Indiana, U.S.A.

*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.

MONACHITis a German blasting explosive which was known at one time asVigorit. It is distinguished by containing nitro-compounds derived from naphtha, mostly nitro-xylenes and nitro-mesitylenes.

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.

MONARKITEis a coal-mine explosive made by Kynoch, Ltd., and is on the Permitted List—

MONOBELis a coal-mine explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co. There are three formulæ which have passed the Rotherham Test, but A1 is no longer on the Permitted List—

There is also Quarry Monobel which is not permitted for use in dangerous coal mines, and presumably contains no alkali chloride.

See alsoViking PowderandVictor Powder.

MONOBEL, NOS. 1to7are 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 POWDERwas 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.SeeFavierExplosives.

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. ofblasting gelatine.

The prefixes Gesteins- and Wetter- are applied according as the explosive is intended for rock or coal mines.

Grisou-NAPHTALITE. SeeFAVIERExplosives.

NATIONALITE.—A coal-mine explosive of theGrisouniteclass 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 ofcomparatively high nitration. It is gelatinised with ether-alcohol and pressed into cords with either one or seven perforations running down them length-ways. These are cut into short cylinders and dried. The powder contains a little diphenylamine as a stabiliser.

N.E.SeeNew Explosives Company’s Smokeless Powder.

NEGRO POWDER.—A coal-mine explosive of theGrisouniteclass made by Roburite and Ammonal, Ltd. The composition, which was on the old Permitted List, was—

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 EXPLOSIVES COMPANY’S SMOKELESS POWDERorN.E.—A 36-grain fibrous bulk powder for shot-guns introduced in 1912. According to an analysis given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76, its composition is—

NEW FORTEX.SeeFORTEX.

NITRALITE.SeeDENSITE.

NITRO-DENSITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by Kynoch, Ltd. It was of theCarbonitetype, and was at one time on the Permitted List—

*NITROKOL.—A gelatinised nitrocellulose powder intended for use in rifles. It consists of a nitrocellulose, mostly soluble in ether-alcohol, and gelatinised with that solvent. It is made up in the form of small square flakes which are graphited.

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 containingblasting gelatine, ammonium nitrate and other substances.

NITRO LOW-FLAME, NOS. 1and2are 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.}NOBEL GELIGNITE.} Under these names explosives were introduced during the War with modified compositions, the potassium nitrate being replaced by sodium nitrate, and the percentage of nitroglycerine being reduced.

NOBELITis a German blasting explosive containing blasting gelatine, carbonaceous substances, inorganic nitrates and sodium or potassium chloride.

AMMON-NOBELITcontains ammonium nitrate, and the proportion ofblasting gelatineis 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—

ExplosifsOare the chlorate explosives made in the French State factories. O1, O2, O4 and O5 areCheddites(q. v.). O3 is a Sprengel explosive, and is dealt with under the heading ofProméthée.

OAKLEY QUARRY POWDERis a blasting explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate andtetryl.

OAKLITE.—A coal-mine explosive made by the Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd., which was on the old Permitted List—

ODITE.—A coal-mine explosive which was made by the New Explosives Co., and 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.

ORKANITis the same asAlkalsit, but may contain sodium chloride and similar salts.

OXYLIQUITis 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 alsoMarsit.

PANCLASTITE.—A Sprengelexplosive made by mixing liquid nitrogen peroxide with carbon bisulphide, nitro-benzene or nitro-toluene. It was proposed in 1881 by Turpin, and was tried by Germany for filling shell, the two constituents being contained in separate glass containers, which were broken by the shock of discharge. It was not adopted there on account of the inconvenience of dealing with a liquid which gives off poisonous fumes. It is a powerful and violent explosive, and is probably the same as the “Turpinite” about which sensational statements were made in the press early in the War.

PANNONIT.—A blasting explosive made by the A. G. Dynamit Nobel of Austria. It has replacedProgressitin Austria as a coal-mine explosive. Its composition is—

PASTANIL.—A German ammonium nitrate blasting explosive similar toPlastammon.

*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.

PERCHLORITis 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.SeeKoronit.

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—