ACETYLENE GAS AS AN EXPLOSIVE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1749, 13 September 1905, Page 50

ACETYLENE GAS AS AN EXPLOSIVE

(By U.S.A. Consul-General, Frankfort.) German papers state that acetylene gas, generated from calcium-carbide by the simple addition of water, met expectations, which, however, were very great. Oh account of the ease with which a gas for lighting purposes jould he obtained, it was believed it tt'ould be used very extensively, but the boom in the acetylene industry did not v last long. New uses for the gas have been looked for for some time. The latest invention is its use as an explosive.

By means of an air-mixture explosive force is obtained which can compete with that of powder and dynamite. The explosion takes place in an air-chamber, and is caused by an electric spark. For this purpose carbide of calcium is reduced to small particles and put into a cartridge, consisting of a tin box. In this the carbide lies at the bottom, and above it is a partition filled with water. Above this is a vacant space with the electric percussion device. On the Side of the cartridge is an iron pin, by means of which the partition between the carbide and the water can he perforated. After the drill-hole has been completed the cartridge is placed into it and the hole is closed with a wooden stopper. Then the protruding iron pin is dealt a blow, by which the partition is perforated and the water is caused to come in contact with the carbide, whereby acetylene gas is generated. This mixes with the air of the drill-hole. After five minutes the gas is ignited by -an electric spark. By this method of blasting the rock is said to be not thrown out hut rent with innumerable cracks,' so that it can be easily removed afterwards. About 17oz of carbide, which produces about 16 quarts of acetylene eras, are used for. each cartridge