Patent GB-811731-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in methods for the preparation of gelatinized expolsives containing nitrocellulose
IPC: C06B25/26
Filed: 1956-02-08
Abstract: 811,731. Gelatinized explosive compositions. HISPANO SUIZA SOC. ANON TANGER. Feb. 8, 1956 [Feb. 18, 1955], No. 3963/56. Class 9(2) A method of preparing gelatinized explosive compositions comprises incorporating into starting material, containing at least 25 per cent by weight of nitrocellulose, from 3-15 per cent by weight of at least one soap, insoluble in water, of the group constituted by organic base-fatty-acid salts and metal-fatty acid salts, the metal being one of the group constituted by calcium, strontium, barium, magnesium. and aluminium, and gelatinizing the resultant mixture. The explosive compositions may be high explosive or smokeless powders, and the starting meterial is nitrocellulose alone, or in combination with explosive oils, e.g. nitroglycerine, or diethylene glycol dinitrate, say 25-68 per cent nitrocellulose and 15-42 per cent explosive oil. Where an explosive oil is present, 5-45 per cent crystalline solid explosive may be added, e.g. TNT tetryl, hexogen, PETN, or ammonium, or potassium, perchlorate, and where crystalline explosives are added, the composition may also include at least one salt capable of yielding oxygen, e.g. ammonium, or alkali metal, nitrate, or an exothermic mixtore of substances having a blasting and incendiary effect, e.g. a mixture of barium nitrate and powdered aluminium. The composition may be gelatinized by mechanical treatment in the hot state without solvent, or by solvent. The organic base may be aniline, toluidine, xylidine, naphthylamine, diphenylamine, urea, hydrazine, or substitution products of these, or dicyandiamide, or ethanolamine. The soap should be at least 30 per cent oleate, should contain at least two of the specified metals, although the proportion of aluminium soap should be 20 per cent at most, and should contain an amount of metal soap at least equal to the amount of organic base soap. In the examples: (1) a smokeless powder is prepared by kneading nitrocellulose with a solvent and a mixture of magnesium oleate, and calcium stearate, with aluminium stearate,or with barium palmitate and oleate of urea and diphenylamine, and gelatinizing; (2) a smokeless powder is prepared by kneading nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine with a solvent and a mixture of calcium oleate, magnesium stearate, and stearates of diethanolamine and aniline, and gelatinized; (3A) a smokeless powder is prepared by mixing under water nitrocellulose, diethylene glycol dinitrate, and a mixture of calcium oleate, magnesium oleate, calcium stearate, and oleates, or stearates, of alphanaphthylamine and urea, centrifuging out water, and gelatinlizing by heat and pressure; (3B) a smokeless powder is prepared as in (3A) by mixing nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and a mixture of calcium oleate, calcium palmitate, and aluminium stearate; (4A) a brisant explosive is prepared by mixing under water, nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, TNT, PETN, and a mixture of magnesium oleate, calcium oleate, calcium stearate, and oleate of aniline, centrifuging water off, dehydrating in a screw press, and gelatinizing by heat and pressure; (4B) a brisant explosive is prepared by mixing under water nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, PETN, nitroguanidine, and calcium oleate, and treating as in (3A), (4C) a brisant explosive by mixing under water nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, or diethyline glycol dinitrate,, PETN, ammonium, or potassium, perchlorate, and calcium oleate, and treating as in (3A); 5) a brisant explosive is prepared by mixing nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, or diethylene glycol dinitrate, PETN, or hexogen, and a mixture of calcium oleate, magnesium stearate, and aluminium oleate, centrifuging out water, rolling out further moisture, adding ammonium or sodium nitrate, and gelatinizing; (6) a brisant explosive is prepared by mixing nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, TNT, aluminium powder, barium nitrate, and soap, and gelatinizing by heat and pressure.