Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-24
White GunpOWder.

There is an article upon the above subject
by n. Pohl, German chemist, in the Lon
don, Edlnburg and Dublin Philosophical
Magazine for July last, and another on the
same subject in the Chemical NeaOS, August
"a, by i. Hudson, Esq. Considerable atten-
ton has lately been given by some chemists
to this peculiar substance. The former states
that prussiate of potash 20 parts, sugar %,
aud chlorate of potash 49 parts, make good
white gunpowder. In exploding this powder
100 parts of it yielded 4744 OF gaseous pro-
ducts and 52.B6 of solid residue. Ordinarily
black guDpowder furnishes only 3l,39 of
gaseons products and 68 06 Of solid residue.
The efficiency Of gunpowder is measured by
the gases which are produced from it by the
explosion An equal weight of white gun
pow der will produce 67 times the explosive
effect OF the black In order to obtain the
sane effect on projectiles and mines only go
parts of white powder will be required for
100 parts of the common kind. The residue
OF the white being as 3l.53 to 68 of the black,
il is more cleanly, while the heat generated
when ii is lighted is much lower; and a
greater Uumber of shots can be fred with it
without heating the cannon. NJ. POhl con-
slders that white uspowder, being'more en-
ergetic in It's acJlon than the common black
powder, it. approaches more nearly gun-cot-
ton for efficiency, and it has the advantage
over this substance in being more easily pre-
pared, keeping for longer period of time
without chauge, and is cheaper. This powder
is lot ouly easier of preparation than the old,
but il may be made in a few hours ia gre at
quantities with very simple machinery. NJ.
Pohl states that it is difficult of ex posion by
pressure and peIcussiou; but Mr. F. Hudson,
IL his communication to the Chemical News,
states that he Eade several according to NJ
Pobl's receipts, and found that when he
mixed the materials moist then dried them
al 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the powder was
very liable to explode with fTicton-it was
indeed percussion powder. THIS was not
the case when they were mixed dry. He
says:
"a cannon loaded with white gunpowder
goes off on the application of few drops of
sul lphuric acid applied at the tOuch-hOle.
The property Of this gunpowder may possi-
by be applied to some advantage iu the pre-
psTation OF bOmbshells for long rauge
These shells would not explode until they
strlke the object, If fitted with white powder
and contain a smatl glass vessel filled with
sulphuric acid. NO explosion of the shell
wouid take place in the air, as is too often
the case with ordinary fuse she'll"
As this white powder contains a very large
amount of chlorate of potash, it will cOrrOde
the locks and barrels Of rifles more rapidly
than common guDpOwdeF. IL, however, may
he used as good substitute if saltpetre be
comes scarce and high in price. IL will also
require TO be handled with more care, as il
is liable 10 explode with severe pressure.
| We have exploded 1t easily on an anvil by a
| blow with hammer. As it is very cleanly
we would prefer II TO black powder, and il
| may yet be so manufactured, we believe, as
to become a substitute for it, for most pur-
poses.