Part 7
=ROMPERIT.=--A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, trinitro-toluene, flour and resin. It may also contain up to 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine.
Wetter-Romperit contains also sodium chloride, ammonium chloride or magnesite, and is used in coal mines.
Gelatine-Romperit contains gelatinised nitroglycerine, glycerine, potato meal, etc., and nitrates, and may also contain aromatic nitro-compounds and alkali nitrates.
Romperit G, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is similar to Astralit V.
=ROSLIN GIANT BLASTING POWDER= is a perchlorate explosive made by Curtis’s and Harvey.
=*ROTTWEIL SMOKELESS POWDERS.=--These were pushed energetically in England in 1913. They comprised a gelatinised rifle powder, and a 37-grain gelatinised dense shot-gun powder. Analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 90--
Shot-gun. Rifle. Nitrocellulose, insoluble 72·3 72·8 ” soluble 24·5 25·0 Metallic nitrates 0·7 -- Camphor and diphenylamine 1·0 1·0 Moisture 1·5 1·2
=*RUBY POWDER.=--- A 42-grain bulk smokeless powder, for shot-guns, introduced in 1899 by Curtis’s and Harvey. The following analysis was given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917--
Nitrocellulose, insoluble 46·6 ” soluble 4·0 Metallic nitrates 34·0 Nitro-compound 8·2 Starch 5·5 Moisture 1·7
It is an inexpensive powder made without solvents.
=RUSSELITE.=--A coal-mine explosive which was made by the Forcite Co. in Belgium. It was on the old British Permitted List--
Nitroglycerine 40·5 Collodion cotton 2·3 Potassium nitrate 24·5 Trinitro-toluene 5·5 Wood meal 4 Ammonium oxalate 23 Calcium carbonate 0·2
*Poudre =S= is a shot-gun powder made by the French Government. It consists of--
Guncotton 37 Soluble nitrocotton 28 Potassium nitrate 6 Barium nitrate 29 Moisture 2
The ingredients are incorporated together under light edge runners, dried and partially gelatinised with 35 per cent. of ether-alcohol. The dough, which is not very coherent, is formed into grains by simply passing it through a sieve. The grains are dried, sifted, hardened if necessary with ether-alcohol, and again dried and sifted.
=SABULITE= is a blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, trinitro-toluene and calcium silicide. The last constituent increases the heat of explosion and renders the mixture more sensitive both to detonation and to blows; it plays the same part as the aluminium powder in Ammonal.
Ammonium nitrate 78 Trinitro-toluene 8 Calcium silicide 14
This composition was modified by the Belgian Sabulite Co. to render it suitable for use in coal mines: by introducing some potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride it was able to pass the tests, and obtain a place on the list of “explosifs S.G.P.”--
Sabulite antigri- souteuse A.
Ammonium nitrate 54 Potassium nitrate 22 Ammonium chloride 13 Trinitro-toluene 6 Calcium silicide 5
Sabulite has been used as a military high explosive.
=SAFETY BLASTING POWDER.= See =CAHUECIT=.
=SALIT= or Wittenberger Wetterdynamit is a German coal-mine explosive. The following is an analysis--
Ammonium nitrate 53·6 Nitroglycerine 11·8 Collodion cotton 0·5 Dinitro-toluene 8·5 Dextrin 2·5 Sodium chloride 23·1
=SAMSONITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List. It is now no longer permitted for use in dangerous coal mines but is still used for general purposes.
Nitroglycerine 58·5 Collodion cotton 3·5 Potassium nitrate 18 Wood meal 6·5 Ammonium oxalate 13·5
During the War potassium nitrate was replaced by sodium nitrate, and the nitroglycerine was reduced to 50 per cent.
Nos. 2 and 3 have passed the Rotherham Test and are on the Permitted List--
No. 2. No. 3. _Date of Permit_ 25-1-19 25-1-19 Nitroglycerine 51·5 51·5 Collodion cotton 3 3 Amide compound 0·2 0·3 Potassium perchlorate 11 -- Sodium nitrate -- 10 Borax 23·3 25·2 Potassium chloride 10 -- Sodium chloride -- 10 Moisture 1 -- Limit charge 26 24 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·49 2·42”
=SAXONITE= was the predecessor of Samsonite on the old Permitted List. It has practically the same composition, but wide limits are allowed. It also is used for general purposes. During the War potassium nitrate was replaced by sodium nitrate.
Ammon-=SCHLESIT= or Kohlen-=SCHLESIT= is a German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate and other nitrates, nitro-compounds, starch, neutral salts, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, and not more than 2 per cent. of potassium perchlorate.
=SCHNEIDERITE= is a high explosive used by the French for filling shell. Its composition is the same as the Favier explosive N_1 c.
=*SCHULTZE POWDER= was the first successful smokeless powder made. It was invented by Capt. E. Schultze of the Prussian Artillery, who appears at first simply to have impregnated little grains of wood with saltpetre (Eng. Pat. 900 of 1864). But later the wood cellulose was purified and nitrated, and then mixed with nitrates. The powder has remained the same as this until the present day, although the methods of manufacture have been developed and, indeed, revolutionised more than once. In “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 75, the following analyses of different brands were given--
Sawdust. Schultze. Imperial. Cube. Lightning. _Date introduced_ 1869 1883 1902 1908 1913 _Charge for_ 42 42 33 30 33 _12-bore grns._ Fibrous. Fibrous. Fibrous. Gelatinised. Fibrous. Nitrocellulose, insoluble} 25·0 63·7 62·1 55·0 ” soluble} 64·8 40·0 18·9 27·0 27·0 Metallic nitrates 33·0 29·0 8·0 5·0 11·2 Vaseline -- 4·0 7·6 4·0 5·0 Moisture 2·2 2·0 1·8 1·9 1·8
The nitrocellulose in all cases has been made from wood cellulose. All the powders are of the bulk type.
Schultze powder is also made in America as a 36-grain fibrous bulk powder--
Nitrocellulose, insoluble 4·9 ” soluble 78·5 Metallic nitrates 10·5 Vaseline 3·7 Moisture 2·4
=SEAMEX= is a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd.--
Nitroglycerine 10 Ammonium nitrate 58 Wheat flour 20 Sodium chloride 12
Limit charge 36 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2.54”
=SEBOMITE= is a French chlorate explosive resembling Cheddite, but containing tallow instead of castor oil.
=SECURITE= was one of the first coal-mine explosives. It contained ammonium nitrate and dinitro-benzene, and was therefore similar to Bellite and Roburite.
=SECUROPHORE.=--A Belgian coal-mine explosive containing nitroglycerine, nitrates, flour and other constituents.
=SENGITE= is a variety of Tonite introduced in South Africa as a substitute for Gelignite in consequence of the scarcity of glycerine due to the War. It contains guncotton and sodium nitrate, and sufficient moisture to render it safe to handle without diminishing its strength. The first four letters of its name stand for _s_ubstitute _e_xplosive _n_o _g_lycerine. It requires a priming cartridge of gelignite or similar explosive. It is more expensive than gelignite, and consequently is not likely to be used when the scarcity of glycerine has been relieved.
=SHELLITE.=--A high explosive consisting of picric acid and dinitro-phenol, used for filling shells. The mixture possesses the advantage over straight picric acid that it melts at a lower temperature. It was for a time called Picrol.
=SHEPPEY POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the Cotton Powder Co. which was on the Permitted List for a short time, but was removed in 1914--
_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13
Nitroglycerine 27 Potassium nitrate 31 Wood meal 36 Ammonium oxalate 6
Limit charge 10 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·10”
=SIEGENIT.=--A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, flour, and not more than 15 per cent. of dinitro-toluene. For use in coal mines, sodium chloride and magnesium sulphate are added as diluents, and nitroglycerine to increase the sensitiveness.
=SILESIA= is a German blasting explosive consisting of potassium chlorate, the particles of which are coated with resin or oxidised resin. The latter is made by treating ground colophony, mixed with 10 per cent. of starch, with nitric acid. After washing and drying this is incorporated with the chlorate with the aid of alcohol, in which it is soluble. For use in coal mines sodium chloride is sometimes added. The following are examples--
4. 4_a_. IV. 22. Potassium chlorate 80 80 70 Resin 20 16 } 8 ” oxidised -- 4 } Sodium chloride -- -- 22
It is practically the same as Steelite.
=*S.K., S.R., S.S., S.V.= were partially gelatinised fibrous smokeless powders, introduced by the Smokeless Powder Co. about 1889. They are no longer made. The following analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 77--
S.R. S.S. Nitrocellulose, insoluble 45·2 53·0 ” soluble 25·5 13·0 Metallic nitrates. 18·5 18·0 Nitro-compound -- 10·0 Vaseline -- 4·6 Starch 8·0 -- Moisture 2·8 1·4
The nitrocellulose was made from lignin. S.S. was a 38-grain bulk powder; S.R. was a fibrous powder for rifles; S.K. a similar powder for small rifles, and S.V. for revolvers.
=*SMOKELESS DIAMOND= is a 33-grain bulk smokeless powder for shot-guns, introduced in 1903 by Curtis’s and Harvey. According to an analysis in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 78, its composition is--
Nitrocellulose, insoluble 69·0 ” soluble 6·6 Metallic nitrates 15·0 Vaseline 2·5 Charcoal 5·6 Moisture 1·3
=*SOLENITE.=--A smokeless powder introduced in Italy in 1896 for use in rifles--
Nitroglycerine 34 Nitrocotton, soluble 63 Mineral jelly 3
It is gelatinised with the aid of acetone, and is made in the form of translucent short tubes of a light brown colour.
=SPRENGCHLORAT.= See Hassia-Chlorat.
=SPRENGEL EXPLOSIVES= were patented in 1871 by Dr. Hermann Sprengel, F.R.S., the inventor of the mercury vacuum pump. They are made by mixing an oxidising substance with a combustible one, the essential features being that one or both of the substances must be liquid, and the mixing takes place shortly before the explosive is required. The mixture is exploded by means of a fulminate detonator. As oxidising agents, Sprengel mentioned amongst others nitric acid and potassium chlorate; nitrogen peroxide has also been used; as combustibles, a large number of substances including nitro-benzene, nitro-naphthalene, carbon bisulphide, petroleum and picric acid. For most purposes nitric acid is an inconvenient material to use. Porous cartridges of potassium chlorate constitute the oxidiser generally employed, the combustibles being hydrocarbon oils and nitro-benzene. This possesses considerable advantages, as there is no danger of a premature explosion until the constituents have been mixed. Under the British Explosives Act, however, this mixing constitutes “manufacture,” and can only be carried out in a properly licensed factory. Consequently Sprengel explosives have not been used in Great Britain, but they have been employed on a considerable scale in the United States, France, Italy and other countries.
For examples of Sprengel explosives _see_ Panclastite, Prométhée, Rack-a-Rock.
=SPRENGGELATINE= is the German for Blasting Gelatine.
=SPRENGSALPETER= is a cheap German blasting powder made from sodium nitrate, sulphur and brown coal. It is used in the potash mines.
=STABILITE= is a name that has been given to trinitro-anisole. It has been tried as a constituent of a smokeless powder, but it belies its title as it is readily hydrolysed with the formation of picric acid. It has also been used by the Germans as a filling for bombs.
=STANFORD POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive of the Favier class which was on the Permitted List for a short time in 1913.
=STEELITE= was practically the same as Silesia. Colliery Steelite was a coal-mine explosive on the old Permitted List, and made by Steelite Explosives, Ltd. It contained--
Potassium chlorate 74 Oxidised resin 25 Castor oil 1
Steelite is no longer authorised for manufacture or import into the United Kingdom.
=ST. HELEN’S POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive of the Ammonal type made by the Roburite Explosives Co., which was on the old Permitted List--
Ammonium nitrate 93·5 Aluminium powder 2·5 Trinitro-toluene 4
=STOMONAL= is a coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List. In order to pass the Rotherham Test and obtain places on the new Permitted List, No. 1 and No. 2 have had salts added as cooling agents--
No. 1. No. 2. _Date of Permit_ 22-6-14 9-5-17
Nitroglycerine 8 10 10 Ammonium nitrate 84·5 56[2] 60·5 Sodium nitrate -- 6 -- Wood meal 7·5 -- 6·5 Wheat flour -- 8·5 -- Sodium chloride -- 19·5 17 Ammonium oxalate -- -- 6
Limit charge -- 20 30 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) -- 2·68 2·57”
[2] Including not more than 2 per cent. magnesium carbonate.
=STONAX= is a low-freezing Gelignite containing a small percentage of a nitro-compound.
=STOW-ITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List--
Nitroglycerine 59 Collodion cotton 4·7 Potassium nitrate 18·3 Wood meal 6 Ammonium oxalate 12
=*STOWMARKET SMOKELESS= is a 33-grain bulk powder for shot-guns made by the New Explosives Co. It is a comparatively inexpensive powder.
=SUNDERITE= was a coal-mine explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd., at one time on the Permitted List--
_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13
Nitroglycerine 9 Ammonium nitrate 53·2 Potassium perchlorate 9 Wood meal 8·8 Ammonium oxalate 20
Limit charge 16 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·66”
=SUPER-CLIFFITE.= See =CLIFFITE=.
=SUPER-CURTISITE.= See =CURTISITE=.
=SUPER-EXCELLITE.= See =EXCELLITE=.
=SUPERITE.=--A coal-mine explosive which was made by the Carbonite Company in Germany, and formerly on the Permitted List--
_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 Nitroglycerine 4 Ammonium nitrate 82 Potassium nitrate 10 Starch 4
Limit charge 10 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·53”
The Permit was repealed on 21-11-16.
=SUPER-KOLAX.= See =KOLAX.=
=SUPER-RIPPITE.= See =RIPPITE=.
=SWALE POWDER= was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by the Cotton Powder Co., Ltd.--
_Date of Permit_ 10-2-14 Nitroglycerine 19 Collodion cotton 1 Trinitro-toluene 4 Potassium perchlorate 38 Wood meal 10 Ammonium oxalate 28
Limit charge 20 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·50”
The permit has been repealed.
=SWALITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the Cotton Powder Co., Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List--
Nitroglycerine 59·5 Collodion cotton 4 Potassium nitrate 17 Wood meal 6 Ammonium oxalate 13·5
=SYNDITE.=--A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List. It was made by the Carbonite Syndicate in Germany--
Nitroglycerine 11 Collodion cotton 0·2 Ammonium nitrate 46·3 Sodium nitrate 8 Glycerine 3·5 Starch 4 Sodium chloride 27
Limit charge over 40 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·22”
The permit was repealed on 21-9-16.
*Poudre =T= is a condensed smokeless shot-gun powder manufactured by the French Government. It is made from guncotton, CP_1, to which 2 per cent. of saltpetre is added, gelatinised with acetone. The dough is pressed into strips which are rolled down to a thickness of 0·15 mm. and cut into small squares of 1·5 mm. side. The powder is then steeped in water to dissolve out the greater part of the potassium nitrate, dried, and finally drummed with a little gum and graphite to make it more progressive. This powder is superior to the other French sporting-powders, but is more expensive. The charge for a 16-bore cartridge is 1·9 grammes.
=TELSIT A= is a blasting explosive made at the Nobel Works in Switzerland. It consists of ammonium nitrate, nitrated toluene and aluminium powder.
Gelatine-Telsit contains ammonium nitrate, blasting gelatine and liquid trinitro-toluene, also gelatinised with collodion cotton.
Special-Gelatine-Telsit differs from this in having part of the ammonium nitrate replaced by sodium nitrate.
=TERRIT= is a plastic blasting explosive made in Sweden, and consisting of ammonium perchlorate, sodium nitrate and liquid dinitro-toluene, gelatinised with collodion cotton--
Ammonium perchlorate 43 Sodium nitrate 28 Dinitro-toluene (liquid) 27·8 Collodion cotton 1·2
It is difficult to detonate.
=TETRYL= is the name usually given to tetranitro-methyl-aniline, the strictly scientific designation of which is trinitro-phenyl- methyl-nitramine--
CH_3 NO_2 \ / \ / N / \ NO_2 | | NO_2 | | \ / NO_2
It is used extensively as an intermediate detonating agent for high-explosive shell, as it is somewhat more sensitive than most of the explosives used, and can consequently be detonated by a small charge of fulminate. It is also called C. E.
Grisou-=TETRILITE=. See Favier Powder.
=TEUTONIT= is a German Favier explosive containing not less than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, not more than 5 per cent. of flour or potato meal, and not more than 15 per cent. of aromatic nitro- and dinitro-compounds. It may also contain neutral salts.
=TEUTONITE= was a name given occasionally to White Gunpowder (q. v.).
=THAMES POWDER= is a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by the British Explosives Syndicate, Ltd.--
No. 2. _Date of Permit_ 22-6-14 28-1-15
Nitroglycerine 6·5 10 Ammonium nitrate 55 59[3] Potassium nitrate 10 -- Wood meal 4·5 10 Starch 5 -- Ammonium oxalate 19 -- Sodium chloride -- 21
Limit charge 32 22 Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·78 2·59”
[3] Including not more than 2 per cent. of magnesium carbonate.
=THERMIT= is not an explosive, although in some respects it resembles one. It generally consists of a mixture of about three parts oxide of iron with one part of aluminium powder, but other oxides and other metals are sometimes used. When initiated by strong heat in one place a reaction sets in with great evolution of heat and the formation of a white-hot mass of molten iron and slag. It differs from an explosive in that no gas is formed and the reaction is comparatively slow. It is used for filling incendiary bombs and for many industrial purposes.
=THORNIT.=--A German blasting explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate and vegetable meal. It may also contain animal or vegetable fats.
=TITANITE.=--A coal-mine explosive manufactured in Hungary. A variety of it was on the old British Permitted List--
Ammonium nitrate 87 Trinitro-toluene 7 Curcuma charcoal 6
Other varieties containing a smaller percentage of ammonium nitrate have been used for general blasting.
=T.N.T.= stands for trinitro-toluene or trotyl.
=TOLITE= stands for trinitro-toluene.
=TONITE=, or Cotton Powder, is a blasting explosive which was much used at one time. It consists of guncotton mixed with a nitrate and compressed into blocks or cylinders, but a small percentage of a nitro-compound has sometimes been added. A Belgian Tonite had the composition--
Guncotton 53·0 Barium nitrate 37·6 Sodium nitrate 9·4
That made by the Cotton Powder Co. consists of--
Guncotton 50 Barium nitrate 50
=TOXOL= is a high explosive, a mixture of trinitro-xylene and trinitro-toluene.
=TREMONIT= is a German coal-mine explosive containing gelatinised dinitro-glycerine, _e.g._--
Tremonit S II. Dinitro-glycerine 33 Collodion cotton 1 Trinitro-toluene 2·5 Ammonium nitrate 26·5 Pea flour 12 Sodium chloride 25
Ammon-Tremonit or Gesteins-Tremonit contains a considerable proportion of ammonium nitrate.
Gesteins-Tremonit V. contains also up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, and is similar to Astralit V.
=TRINOL.=--A name for trinitro-toluene.
=TRIPLASTIT= was a plastic high explosive obtained by gelatinising a liquid or semi-liquid mixture of nitro-toluenes with collodion cotton and mixing it with lead nitrates, _e.g._--
Nitro-toluenes 70 Collodion cotton 1·2 Lead nitrate 28·8
It was intended for filling shell, etc.
*=TROISDORF SMOKELESS POWDER= became prominent in England in 1897 in connection with Mannlicher cartridges for the Bisley long-range competitions. It was occasionally recorded as Pigou Wilkes Powder, as that firm were agents for it. The following are analyses of samples taken in 1898 (“Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 90)--
Shot-gun Rifle Powder. Powder.