MODERN EXPLOSIVES.
The composition of some of the modern high explosives is aB follow : Dynamite. — Seventy-five parts j of nitro-glycerine aud 25 of infusorial earth.
Daulino. — Eighty parts nitro-gly-cerine, and 20 of nitro-celluloße or gun-cotton.
Rendrock. — Forty parts uitro-gly-cerine, 40 of nitrate of potash or soda, 13 of cellnlose, and seven of parafflne. Giant powder. — Thirty- six parts of nitro-glycerine, 48 of nitrate of potash of soda, 8 of sulphur, and 8 of resin or charcoal.
Mica powder. — Forty-two parts of uitro-glycerine and 48 of pulverised mica.
Tonite. — Fifty-two and one half parts of gun-cotton and 47| of nitrate of bartva.
Blastinggelatine.— NiDety-two parts of nitro-glycerine and eight of guncotton.
Atlas powder. — Seventy.five parts of nitro-glycerine, 21 of wood fibre two of carbonate of magnesia, and two of nitrate of soda.
Rnckarock. — Seventy-seven and seven-tentbs parts of chlorate of potash and 23 3 of nitro-beczol.
It will be noticed that nearly all tbe above explosives are composed principally of nitro-glycerine ; and it is probable tbat in most cases the other ingredients only act as absorbents for this liquid, and really add nothing to the explosive power. The decomposition of nitro-glycerine is practically instantaneous, and the slower acting nitrates and hydrocarbons must be left
far behind when the mass is exploded. The power of all these substances is due to the paradoxical element nitrogen, which is by itself the most neutral and inactive of all tbe elements but when forced iuto chemical combination, usually confers an element of weakness upon the entire molecule of which it forms a part.
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Bibliographic details
Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 4079, 28 February 1894, Page 4
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258MODERN EXPLOSIVES. Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 4079, 28 February 1894, Page 4
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