Part 4
=FAVERSHAM POWDER= is a coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite type made by the Cotton Powder Co. The mixture, which was on the old Permitted List, had the composition--
Ammonium nitrate 90 Trinitro-toluene 10
To make it pass the Rotherham Test, part of the ammonium nitrate was replaced by potassium nitrate, and ammonium chloride was added--
No. 2. _Date of Permit_ 10-2-14
Ammonium nitrate 47·5 Potassium nitrate 24 Ammonium chloride 18·5 Trinitro-toluene 10
Limit charge 24 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·61”
but this also has now been repealed.
=FAVIER= explosives 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--
Grisou-naphtalite- Grisou-naphtalite-. couche. roche. N_1 a. N_4. N_1 b.
Ammonium nitrate 95 90 91·5 86·5 Potassium nitrate -- 5 -- 5 Dinitro-naphthane -- -- 8·5 8·5 Trinitro-naphthalene 5 5 -- -- Tetryl -- -- -- --
For mines free from Grisou-tetrylite-couche. fire-damp, etc. N_1 c.
Ammonium nitrate 88 87·4 Potassium nitrate 5 -- Dinitro-naphthane -- 12·6 Trinitro-naphthalene -- -- Tetryl 7 --
The Grisounites-couche are used in the coal seams as they have theoretical temperatures of explosion of 1500° or less, but N_1 a has been replaced to a considerable extent by N_4, 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. N_1 b is dyed rose colour, and N_1 c pale yellow.
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--
Ammonium nitrate 77·6 Dinitro-naphthalene 2·4 Ammonium chloride 20
Charge limite More than 293 grammes.
=FAVORIT.= See =KORONIT.=
=*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--
Nitrocellulose, insoluble 40·5 ” soluble 20·5 Metallic nitrates 30·0 Nitro-compound 5·0 Vaseline 2·7 Moisture 1·3
=*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 aniline 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--
O. Ammonium nitrate 70 Barium nitrate 15 Cellulose 5 Dinitro-toluene 10
Charge limite 100g.
I. Blasting gelatine 4 Ammonium nitrate 82 Potassium nitrate 10 Rye flour 4
Charge limite 500g.
III. Nitroglycerine 6 Ammonium nitrate 70 Ammonium sulphate 9 Barium sulphate 7 Dextrin 8
Charge limite 650g.
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--
Foerdit. Ammon-Foerdit. Nitroglycerine 25·5 3·8 Collodion cotton 1·5 0·2 Ammonium nitrate 37 85 Nitro-toluene 5 -- Dextrine or flour 4 4 Glycerine 3 2 Diphenylamine -- 1 Potassium chloride 24 4
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--
Nitroglycerine 49 Collodion cotton 1 Sodium nitrate 38 Sulphur 1·5 Wood tar 10 Wood pulp 0·5
=FORCITE ANTIGRISOUTEUSE 3.=--A Belgian coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type--
Nitroglycerine 26 Potassium nitrate 33 Barium nitrate 1 Rye flour 38·5 Bran 1 Sodium carbonate 0·5
Charge limite 750g.
=FORTEX.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd. The mixture, which was on the old Permitted List, was--
Ammonium nitrate 78·5 Tetryl 21·5
=NEW FORTEX.=--A modification of the above to pass the Rotherham Test--
_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13
Ammonium nitrate 35 Potassium nitrate 33 Tetryl 12 Ammonium chloride 20
Limit charge 10 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·61”
=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--
B. D.
Ammonium nitrate 75 Ammonium nitrate 75 Dinitro-naphthalene 2·8 Sodium nitrate 10 Ammonium oxalate 2·2 Nitroglycerine 4 Ammonium chloride 20 Ammonium oxalate 7 Flour 4
Charge limite 450 g. Charge limite 700 g.
=FRACTURITE.=--A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List, made by the British Explosives Syndicate, Ltd.--
Nitroglycerine 52·5 Collodion cotton 3·5 Potassium nitrate 23 Wood meal 6 Ammonium oxalate 15
=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 the Carbonite type. No. 3 is an ammonium nitrate explosive.
=FUELLPULVER= (or =FP.=) 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 as Amatol 40/60. Fp. without figures stands for trinitro-toluene.
=*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--
Fulmenit. Wetter-Fulmenit.
Ammonium nitrate 86·5 76 76·5 Guncotton 4 0·5 4 Trinitro-toluene 5·5 11·8 5·5 Charcoal 1·5 1·5 1·5 Paraffin oil 2·5 0·2 2·5 Sodium chloride -- 10 10
=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--
Ammonium nitrate 83·4 Dinitro-benzene 16·5 Moisture 0·1
=GEHLINGERIT.=--A German blasting explosive. Gesteins-Gehlingerit III. contains--
Ammonium nitrate 80 Trinitro-toluene 15 Flour 5
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.
=GELATINE DYNAMITE= is a mixture of blasting 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--
Nitroglycerine 74·5 Collodion cotton 5·5 Wood meal 4 Potassium nitrate 15·5 Calcium carbonate 0·2 Moisture 0·3
In America brands are made of 35 to 80 per cent. strength.
=GELIGNITE= is similar to Gelatine Dynamite except that it contains a smaller proportion of blasting gelatine; in Britain the percentage of nitroglycerine must be between 56 and 63, _e. g._--
Nitroglycerine 61 Collodion cotton 4·5 Wood meal 7 Potassium nitrate 27 Calcium carbonate 0·2 Moisture 0·3
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 contains blasting gelatine, inorganic nitrates, sodium chloride, carbohydrates and dinitro-toluene--
I. II. III.
Blasting gelatine 30·75 30·75 32·5 Ammonium nitrate -- 22 22 Sodium nitrate 18 -- -- Dinitro-toluene 5·25 5·25 5·25 Dextrin 39 21 -- Pea flour -- -- 20 Sodium chloride 7 21 20·25
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 type 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 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--
Ammonium nitrate 82·5 Dinitro-benzene 1 Turmeric 10·5 Copper oxalate 6
=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.
=GRISOUNITE.=--A French coal-mine explosive. See =FAVIER= Explosives.
=GRISOUTINE= or =GRISOU-DYNAMINE= is the only explosive except Grisounite allowed in the more dangerous French coal mines. It consists of ammonium nitrate mixed with blasting 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--
Couche au Roche au Couche. Salpêtre. Roche. Salpêtre.
Nitroglycerine 12 12 29 29 Collodion cotton 0·5 0·5 1 1 Ammonium nitrate 87·5 82·5 70 65 Potassium nitrate -- 5 -- 5
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 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--
Nitroglycerine 44 Magnesium sulphate 44 Cellulose 12
Charge limite 300 g.
=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 =BLACK POWDER=.
=*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. 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 of cordite mixed 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 to Astralit V.
=HALOKLASTIT.= See =PETROKLASTIT=.
=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-CHLORAT= is 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.
No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. _Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 21-11-16 30-5-18
Nitroglycerine 26 15·5 9·5 Collodion cotton 1 0·3 -- Ammonium nitrate -- -- 60·5 Potassium nitrate 20 -- -- Sodium nitrate -- 59·5 -- Barium nitrate 20 -- -- Trinitro-toluene -- 5 -- Mineral jelly 7 -- -- Wood meal 15 7·7 5·5 Sodium chloride -- -- 19·5 Ammonium oxalate 11 -- 5 Borax -- 12 --
Limit charge 10 18 16 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·18 1·96 2·44”
=H.E.= stands for High Explosive, used for charging shell or other military purpose.
=*HEBLER POWDER= was 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 also Ammonpulver.
=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.
=HELAGON= is 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.
=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=} =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._--
Dinitro-benzene 1 Nitro-benzene 1 Nitric acid 1·5 Nitric acid 2·5
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--
Nitrocellulose, insoluble 71·0 ” soluble 7·1 Metallic nitrates 7·5 Nitro-compounds 7·6 Paraffin 5·5 Moisture 1·3
=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.--
_Date of Permit_ 22-6-14
Nitroglycerine 33 Collodion cotton 1 Potassium perchlorate 27 Wood meal 10 Ammonium oxalate 29
Limit charge 16 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·72”
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 was 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.
=*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.
=INGÉLITE= is the same in composition as =ANTIGEL DE SÛRETÉ=.
*Poudre =J.=--A French smokeless powder used for shot-guns and revolvers. Its composition is--
Nitrocotton 83 Ammonium bichromate 14 Potassium bichromate 3 Moisture about 3
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.