Part 3
No. 1. No. 2. _Date of Permit_ 21-9-16 21-9-16
Nitroglycerine 9·5 9·5 Collodion cotton 0·5 0·5 Ammonium nitrate 59 59·5 Wood meal 6 6 Sodium chloride 15 19·5 Ammonium oxalate 10 5
Limit charge 26 30 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·53 2·53”
=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.
=COCOA POWDER= or Brown Powder was a variety of gunpowder made with a brown charcoal prepared from straw--
Potassium nitrate 79 Sulphur 3 Straw charcoal 18
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.
=COLINIT ANTIGRISOUTEUSE.=--A Belgian coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type. The ordinary formula is practically the same as that of Kohlencarbonite and Minerite. Type B consists of--
Blasting gelatine 26 Potassium perchlorate 6 Ammonium nitrate 20 Trinitro-toluene 12 Rye flour and cellulose 29 Magnesium sulphate 7
=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--
No. 1. No. 2. 1892. 1900. Fibrous Gelatinised 42-grain 30-grain bulk. dense.
Nitrocellulose, insoluble 13·0 71·1 ” soluble 60·5 20·1 Metallic nitrates 21·3 2·0 Shellac 3·2 -- Nitro-hydrocarbons -- 5·5 Moisture 2·0 1·3
=CORDITE= is the principal smokeless powder of the British Services. It was originally adopted in 1888, and is made by mixing nitroglycerine with guncotton and mineral jelly (a sort of crude vaseline), and incorporating them together with the aid of acetone, which gelatinises the guncotton. In consequence of the severe erosion of the guns experienced during the South African War the proportions were altered, some of the nitroglycerine being replaced by guncotton. The propellant thus “modified” is called Cordite M.D., whereas that of the original composition is Cordite Mk.I. Both are still in use, especially M.D.--
Mk. I. M.D.
Guncotton 37 65 Nitroglycerine 58 30 Mineral jelly 5 5
During the great European War a further variety was introduced to extend the basis of supply of solvents. This is called Cordite R.D.B. (Research Department B), and contains a nitrocotton of comparatively low nitration that can be gelatinised by means of a mixture of ether and alcohol--
Nitrocotton 52 Nitroglycerine 42 Mineral jelly 6
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.--
Nitroglycerine 55 Nitrocotton 3 Potassium nitrate 18 Wood meal 7 Magnesium sulphate 17
=CORONITE= was a coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type, which was on the Permitted List at one time. It had also been called Permittite.
Picric acid has been called by this name in Sweden.
See also =KORONIT=.
=COSILIT.=--A German coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type made by Nahnsen. A published analysis gives its composition as--
Nitroglycerine 30 Sodium nitrate 22·3 Vegetable meal 40·5 Sodium chloride 7·2
=COTTON POWDER.= See =TONITE=, also =CP=.
=CP_1= and =CP_2= are varieties of nitrocotton (Coton Poudre) made in France, principally for the manufacture of Poudre B and other smokeless powders. CP_1 is a guncotton containing about 13 per cent. of nitrogen, and only about 10 per cent. of matter soluble in ether-alcohol. CP_2 is almost completely soluble in ether-alcohol, and contains about 12 per cent. of nitrogen.
=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.
Crésylite No. 2 is simply crude trinitro-meta-cresol.
=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.
=C.S.P.^2= (Chilworth Smokeless Powder, No. 2) is a modification of Cordite, 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--
Nitroglycerine 27 Nitrocotton 0·7 Ammonium nitrate 30 Sodium nitrate 30 Wood meal 11 Barium sulphate 1·3
=CURTISITE.=--A coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite class made by Curtis’s and Harvey. It was formerly on the Permitted List--
Ammonium nitrate 88 Trinitro-toluene 8 Mononitro-naphthalene 4
=SUPER-CURTISITE= was a modification of the above to enable it to pass the Rotherham Test--
_Date of Permit_ 7-4-14
Ammonium nitrate 38·5 Potassium nitrate 29·5 Trinitro-toluene 10 Ammonium chloride 22
Limit charge 16 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·71”
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--
Ammonium nitrate 92·5 Naphthalene 5·5 Potassium bichromate 2
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--
Gesteins- Dahmenit. No. 76.
Ammonium nitrate 84·5 71·5 Potassium bichromate 2·5 0·5 Curcuma meal 12 6·25 Dinitro-benzene 1 -- Trinitro-toluene -- 12 Sodium chloride -- 9·75
Gelatine Dahmenit.
Ammonium nitrate 82 Sodium nitrate 5·5 Potassium nitrate 2 Dinitro-glycerine 27·4 Nitrocotton 0·6 Naphthalene 0·5 Trinitro-toluene 4·5 Alkali chloride 27·5
Neu-Dahmenit. B Ammonium nitrate 68 65 Potassium nitrate 2 2 Vegetable meal 2·5 0·5 Coke 2 7 Trinitro-toluene 10 8 Alkali chloride 15·5 17·5
=DENABY POWDER.=--There was formerly a blasting explosive of this name, consisting of a compressed mixture of Securite and charcoal--
Potassium and barium nitrates 73·2 Dinitro-benzene 21·5 Nitrocotton and charcoal 5·1 Moisture 0·2
In 1914 a coal-mine explosive was introduced under the same name and passed the Rotherham Test--
_Date of Permit_ 13-5-14
Ammonium nitrate 34 Potassium nitrate 33·5 Trinitro-toluene 13 Ammonium chloride 19·5
Limit charge 18 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·74”
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 ammonium chloride. This explosive is practically the same as Nitralite. Varieties have been made for use in coal mines.
See also Nitro-densite.
=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--
Nitroglycerine 59·3 Nitrocotton 4 Paraffin oil 0·7 Ammonium oxalate 8·5 Potassium nitrate 18·5 Potassium chloride 4 Wood meal 5
=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= is a German blasting explosive of the Grisoutine type 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--
Ammonium nitrate 80 Trinitro-toluene 12 Rye flour 4 Nitroglycerine 4 and this may be taken as the usual composition of the explosive, but the nitroglycerine is sometimes gelatinised with collodion cotton.
=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.
=DORFIT= is a German coal-mine explosive made by the firm of Allendorf--
I. II. Gesteins.
Ammonium nitrate 65 61 66 Potassium nitrate 5 5 5 Trinitro-toluene 6 15 15 Flour 4 4 4 Sodium chloride 20 15 10
=ALDORFIT= is a simpler mixture intended for use where there is no danger of fire-damp--
Ammonium nitrate 81 Trinitro-toluene 17 Flour 2
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--
Nitroglycerine 35·5 Nitrocotton 2·5 Potassium nitrate 44·5 Vaseline 5·5 Wood meal and charcoal 12
=DREADNOUGHT POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Roburite and Ammonal, Ltd., for a time on the Permitted List--
_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13
Ammonium nitrate 75·4 Trinitro-toluene 4 Ammonium chloride 5 Sodium chloride 15·5 Red oil 0·1
Limit charge 32 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·05”
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--
No. 1. _Date of Permit_ 26-4-16
Nitroglycerine 9·5 Ammonium nitrate 67·5 Wood pulp 8 Sodium chloride 15
Limit charge 18 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·82”
=*DU PONT SMOKELESS POWDER.=--An American shot-gun powder of the fibrous 36-grain bulk type--
Soluble nitro-cellulose 95·8 Metallic nitrates 2·2 Moisture 2·0
=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--
Nitroglycerine 32 Nitrocotton 1 Sodium nitrate 28 Wood meal 10 Ammonium oxalate 29
Limit charge 12 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·45”
Sicherheits Gallerte-=DYNAMIT=.--A German coal-mine explosive--
Nitroglycerine 32·25 Collodion cotton 1·25 Ammonium nitrate 22·6 Sodium nitrate 10·8 Vegetable meal 18 Potassium chloride 5·5 Gelatine 1·05 Dextrin 1·05 Glycerine 4·3 Moisture 3·2
Limit charge 50 g.
Wettersicheres Gelatine-=DYNAMIT=.--A German coal-mine explosive--
I. I_a_. Nitroglycerine 40 38 Collodion cotton 1 1 Ammonium nitrate 27 25·5 Potassium nitrate 4 5 Ammonium oxalate -- 2·5 Rye flour 10 4 Liquid hydrocarbons 3·5 14 Fatty acid salt 12·5 10 Wood meal 2 --
Limit charge 50 100 g.
=DYNAMITE= is a name that has been given to various nitroglycerine explosives. Dynamite No. 1 consists of--
Nitroglycerine 75 Kieselguhr 25
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--
IV. V. Nitroglycerine 24 Nitroglycerine 44 Collodion cotton 1 Sodium sulphate 44 Ammonium nitrate 75 Wood meal 12
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--
Dynammon. Wetter-Dynammon. Ammonium nitrate 87-88 94 Potassium nitrate -- 2 Red charcoal 12-13 4 Density 0·9 0·85
=DYNOBEL.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Nobels. The first formula to pass the Rotherham Test contained potassium perchlorate--
_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 Nitroglycerine 33 Collodion cotton 0·7 Potassium perchlorate 27 Wood meal 10·3 Ammonium oxalate 29
Limit charge 22 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·61”
Subsequently other formulæ of somewhat different composition passed the test--
No. 2. No. 3. No. 4. _Date of Permit_ 16-8-15 14-4-16 14-4-16 Nitroglycerine 19·5 15 15 Collodion cotton 0·5 0·5 0·5 Trinitro-toluene} Dinitro-toluene } together 2 1·5 3 Dinitro-benzene } Ammonium nitrate 42 52 46 Wood meal 5·5 5·5 5·5 Sodium chloride 30 25 29·5 Magnesium carbonate 0·5 0·5 0·5
Limit charge 24 18 30 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·46 2·50 2·35”
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--
No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. _Date of Introduction_ 1882 1890 1897 _Class_ 42-grain 42-grain 33-grain Nitrocotton, insoluble 30·0 15·9 44·0 ” soluble 28·2 41·0 30·4 Metallic nitrates 37·8 38·3 14·0 Resin 2·1 2·0 -- Vaseline -- -- 6·0 Camphor -- 1·0 4·0 Moisture 1·9 1·8 1·6 The powder is manufactured at Green Street Green, near Dartford in Kent. The name is derived from “Explosives Company.”
=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--
Ammonium nitrate 73 Barium nitrate 19 Starch and slightly-charred wood meal 8
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--
Nitrocotton, insoluble 48·0 ” soluble 34·0 Metallic nitrates 9·0 Vaseline 7·0 Moisture 2·0
=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--
_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 Nitroglycerine 23 Nitrocotton 1 Potassium nitrate 34 Wheat flour 36 Ammonium chloride 6
Limit charge 38 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·17”
=EUREKA No. 2= is 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--
Nitroglycerine 8 Ammonium nitrate 82·5 Collodion cotton 1 Dinitro-toluene 3 Wood meal 4·5 Castor oil 1
=SUPER-EXCELLITE= is a modification of this, containing salts as cooling agents. Three formulæ passed the Rotherham Test--
No. 2. No. 3. _Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 7-4-14 22-6-14 Nitroglycerine 4 5 9·5 Collodion cotton -- -- 0·5 Ammonium nitrate 75·5 50 59 Potassium nitrate 7 20 -- Starch 3·5 5 4·5 Castor oil -- -- 1 Ammonium chloride -- 5 -- Sodium chloride -- -- 15 Ammonium oxalate 10 15 10·5
Limit charge 10 14 36 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·74 2·72 2·73”
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.--
_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13 Ammonium nitrate 35 Potassium nitrate 33 Trinitro-toluene 12 Ammonium chloride 20
Limit charge more than 32 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·62”
See also =XPDITE=.
=EXPLOSIFS N=, =O=, etc. See under respective letters.
=EXTRA DYNAMITE= is a variety of American dynamite containing ammonium nitrate.