Part 6
Limit charge 28 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 1·47”
=*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 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--
Ammonium nitrate 84 Nitroglycerine 8 Wood meal 8
=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.
=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--
Rifle. Shot-gun Powders. _Date of Sample_ 1895 1913 1902 Nitrocellulose, insoluble 93·0 8·8 40·8 ” soluble 3·5 89·4 56·1 Resin 2·0 -- -- Moisture 1·5 1·8 2·0
=NORMANITE.=--A coal-mine explosive which was made by the Cotton Powder Co., and was on the old Permitted List--
Nitroglycerine 33·5 Collodion cotton 1·5 Potassium nitrate 44·5 Wood meal 8 Charcoal 1·5 Ammonium oxalate 11
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--
No. 1. No. 2. Nitroglycerine 25·5 10 Collodion cotton 1 0·5 Potassium nitrate 34·5 -- Ammonium nitrate -- 79·3 Wood meal 38·7 10 Magnesium carbonate 0·3 0·2
=ODITE.=--A coal-mine explosive which was made by the New Explosives Co., and was on the old Permitted List--
Ammonium nitrate 88 Dinitro-benzene 12
=OPHORITE.=--A mild but hot explosive consisting of--
Potassium perchlorate 60 Magnesium powder 40
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.
=PANCLASTITE.=--A Sprengel explosive 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 replaced Progressit in Austria as a coal-mine explosive. Its composition is--
Nitroglycerine 25·5 Collodion cotton 1·5 Ammonium nitrate 37 Dextrin 4 Glycerine 3 Nitro-toluene 5 Sodium or potassium chloride 24
=PASTANIL.=--A German ammonium nitrate blasting explosive similar to Plastammon.
=*P.C./88.=--A Swiss smokeless powder for small-arms consisting of--
Nitrocellulose 82 Trinitro-toluene 18
=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--
Ammonium nitrate 76 Potassium perchlorate 6 Wood meal 2 Dinitro-toluene 16
=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--
_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13
Nitroglycerine 12 Collodion cotton 0·4 Ammonium nitrate 55 Sodium nitrate 1 Glycerine 4 Potato flour 10·6 Sodium chloride 17
Limit charge 18 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·57”
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--
Potassium perchlorate 32·2 Ammonium nitrate 41 Nitroglycerine 3·5 Collodion cotton 0·3 Trinitro-toluene 12 Starch 8 Wood meal 3
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.
=WETTER-PERSALIT= is a similar explosive, but has been modified to make it more suitable for use in coal mines. It contains not more than 35 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, not more than 25 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, aromatic nitro-compounds of which not more than 20 per cent. must be trinitro-toluene, vegetable meal, not more than 6 per cent. of nitroglycerine, sodium nitrate, and neutral salts. It is similar to Neu-Leonit.
=PETROKLASTIT= or =HALOKLASTIT= is a modified gunpowder mixture used in Germany in potash mines and stone quarries. It contains sodium nitrate, sulphur, coal-tar pitch, potassium nitrate, not more than 1 per cent. of potassium bichromate, and may have up to 10 per cent. of charcoal, as, for instance--
Sodium nitrate 69 Potassium nitrate 5 Sulphur 10 Coal-tar pitch 15 Potassium bichromate 1
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.
Nitroglycerine 29·5 Collodion cotton 0·5 Potassium nitrate 32 Wood meal 38
=PICROL.=--See Shellite.
=PIERRITE.=--A form of Cheddite which was made at Gamsee, near Brig, for excavating the Simplon tunnel--
Potassium chlorate 80 Nitro-naphthalene 11·5 Picric acid 2 Castor oil 6·5
=PIT-ITE= was a coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type, made by the New Explosives Co., Ltd. The composition, which was on the old Permitted List, was--
Nitroglycerine 26 Barium nitrate 33 Wood meal 41 and a little sodium or calcium carbonate.
In order to pass the Rotherham Test, the composition was modified to the following, No. 2, which was formerly on the Permitted List--
_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 Nitroglycerine 24 Potassium nitrate 30 Wood meal 38 Ammonium oxalate 8
Limit charge over 32 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·15”
=PITSEA POWDER NO. 2= was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the British Explosives Syndicate, Ltd.--
_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13 Nitroglycerine 6·5 Ammonium nitrate 55 Potassium nitrate 10 Wood meal 10 Ammonium oxalate 18·5
Limit charge 8 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·64”
The permit has been repealed.
Gesteins-=PLASTAMMON=.--A German blasting explosive containing not less than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, glycerine, not more than 15 per cent. of nitro-toluene or other nitro-compounds, and not more than 4 per cent. of nitro-semicellulose.
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--
Nitrocellulose, insoluble 32·7 ” soluble 19·3 Metallic nitrates 21·0 Dinitro-toluene (solvent) 26·0 Moisture 1·0
=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 =B=, =J=, =M=, =S=, =T=. See under respective letters.
=PRAEPOSIT= is a modified gunpowder--
Potassium (or sodium) nitrate 70 Sulphur 18 Charcoal 6 Hipposin 6
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.
=PROGRESSIT= was an explosive formerly used in Austrian coal mines--
Ammonium nitrate 94 89 Aniline hydrochloride 6 5 Ammonium sulphate -- 6
It was superseded in 1913 by Pannonit.
=PROMÉTHÉE= or =PROMETHEUS= is a Sprengel explosive made by the French Government, by whom it is also called Explosif O3. It consists of a porous oxygen carrier and a liquid combustible, which are supplied separately, and the one is dipped in the other shortly before use--
_a_ _b_ _c_ Potassium chlorate 95 90 80 } Manganese dioxide 5 10 20 } Oxygen carrier, 92 to 87%
1 2 Nitro-benzene 50 60 } Turpentine 20 15 } Combustible, 8 to 13% Naphtha 30 25 }
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--
Ammonium nitrate 30·5 Potassium perchlorate 24 Nitroglycerine 6 Collodion cotton 0·5 Trinitro-toluene 7 Flour 5 Sodium chloride 18 Ammonium sulphate 7 Barium sulphate 2
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.
=RACK-A-ROCK= is a Sprengel explosive which has been used extensively in America, and also in Siberia and China. It consists of cartridges of potassium chlorate mixed sometimes with oxide of iron, which are dipped shortly before use into a liquid. The latter is nitro-benzene or “dead oil,” a heavy hydrocarbon oil obtained from coal-tar, or a mixture of the two. The chlorate cartridges are enclosed in small cotton bags, and are placed in a wire basket suspended from a spring balance. They are dipped into a vessel containing the liquid until a quarter or a third of the weight of the chlorate has been taken up.
=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.
II. III. IV. V. VI. Ammonium nitrate -- 84 87 60 85 Sodium nitrate 70 -- -- -- -- Ammonium nitro-cresol sulphonate -- 16 -- -- -- Sodium cresol sulphonate 30 -- 13 10 -- Cellulose residue -- -- -- -- 15 Sodium sulphate -- -- -- 30 --
No. II. is the only one made at present.
=R.D.B.= (Research Department B). See =CORDITE=.
=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--
Nitrocellulose, insoluble 52·2 ” soluble 25·5 Metallic nitrates 10·5 Nitro-compounds 7·0 Vaseline 3·0 Moisture 1·8
=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--
_Date of Permit_ 16-8-15 Nitroglycerine 12 Ammonium nitrate 60 Wood meal 8·5 Sodium chloride 19·5
Limit charge 20 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·61”
=REXITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Co., which was on the old Permitted List. It is no longer “permitted.”
Nitroglycerine 7·5 Ammonium nitrate 66 Sodium nitrate 14·5 Trinitro-toluene 7·5 Wood meal 4·5
=REXOL.=--A high explosive containing ammonium perchlorate, zinc dust, resin and mineral oil.
=R.F.G.= (Rifled Fine Grain)} black powders made for
=R.L.G.= (Rifled Large Grain)} rifles and rifled ordnance respectively.
=RHENANIT.=--A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, and combustibles such as charcoal and naphthalene.
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.
II. III. IV. V. Nitroglycerine 50 35 24 15 Sodium nitrate 32·6 37 56·2 62·9 Wood meal 17 27·5 19 21·2 Sodium carbonate 0·4 0·5 0·8 0·9
=*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.
Shot-gun For ·303 Rifleite. Rifle. _Date of Introduction_ 1894 1890
Nitrocellulose, insoluble 76·0 1·7 ” soluble 18·9 82·5 Nitro-compound 3·5 14·8 Moisture 1·6 1·0
The nitrocellulose was made from lignin. These analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 77.
=RIPPING AMMONAL.= See =AMMONAL=.
=RIPPITE= is an explosive made by Curtis’s and Harvey, which was on the old Permitted List--
Nitroglycerine 61 Collodion cotton 4 Potassium nitrate 19 Castor oil 1 Wood meal 5 Ammonium oxalate 10
It is no longer “permitted” for use in dangerous coal mines, but is still used for general purposes.
=SUPER-RIPPITE= is a modification of this, which has passed the Rotherham Test and is on the Permitted List--
_Date of Permit_ 29-8-14 Nitroglycerine 52 Collodion cotton 3 Potassium nitrate 14·5 Borax 22·5 Potassium chloride 8
Limit charge 18 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·53”
=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--
Potassium chlorate 88·5 Paraffin 11·5
=ROBURITE= is a coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite class. In Germany many different mixtures have been made, but in general they are within the following limits--
Ammonium nitrate 70 to 80 Potassium nitrate 5 ” 10 Trinitro-toluene 12 ” 15 Flour 6 Sodium chloride 5 to 6 Potassium permanganate 0·1 ” 0·5
but some are outside them.
The explosive has also been made in England by the Roburite Explosives Co., Ltd., now incorporated in Roburite and Ammonal, Ltd., who had the following on the old Permitted List--
No. 3 Ammonium nitrate 88 Dinitro-benzene 11 Chlor-naphthalene 1
The following has passed the Rotherham Test and is now on the Permitted List--
No. 4 _Date of Permit_ 13-5-14 Ammonium nitrate 61 Trinitro-toluene 16 Sodium chloride 23
Limit charge 18 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·86”
=ROCKITE= is an explosive made by Curtis’s and Harvey for quarry work, etc.