The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-06-08
SMOKELESS POWDER.
coRDlTE THE MOST POTENT Ex-
PLOslvE OF MODERN TIMES.

It Is Composed Of N,trogiycerin. Gun Cot
ton and vaselinc--Thc Interesting Proc
ess by which Its Dangerous n. ,ments
Arc Combined.
Since the advent of the speedy torpe-
do boat and since rapid firing guns have
been placed on battleships and cruisers
an explosive that would allow to the
officers and guuners an unobstructed
view of nm enemy under all conditions
has been sought, and thousands of dol
lars have been expended in the effort to
obtain satisfactory substitute for black
gunpowder. Cordite, the latest explo-
sive. is said to be the most satisfactory
propellant of modern times Gor naval
warfare, and the expert opinion seems
to be that in a few years gunpowder as
now understood will have vanished.
The earliest records of established
powder mills show that there was only
one i'm operation in 1890, this one being
in England. During the year 1857 the
Waltham Abbey Powder mills were
purchased by the English government.
They are still conducted by it. The Fa-
versham mills, which up to that date
were the largest in the world. passed
into the hands Of u private corporation
in 1915. The manufacture of powder
was continued without much improve.
ment, except in the efficiency Of the
grinding aud mixing machinery, until
about 30 years ago, the formula for
black powder being saltpeter 75 parts,
charcoal 10 parts and sulphur 10 parts,
the whole forming mechanical mix
ture and not a chemical compound
Smokeless powder, however, became
absolutely a necessity. for the reason
that smoke producing powders masked
the object aimed at, and the torpedo
boat, which was becoming recognized
feature of naval warfare, could dash up
and discharge one or more deadly mis-.
siles under cover of the smoke.
Smokeless powders were first pro-
duced in France, and for some time the
secret of the manufacture was guarded
jealously. AS soon as the necessity for
this kind Of powder became apparent.
however, number of manufacturers
devoted attention to it, and as a result
various brands of smokeless explosives
were placed on the market.
The most satisfactory results eventu-
ally made their appearance in cordite,
which was produced through expert
ments made by Professor Dewar and Sir
Frederick Abel Cordite is composed of
nitroglycerin 50 per cent. gun cotton 81
per cent and vaseline per cent Nitro
glycerin is an oily, colorless liquid and
an active poison. 1t is produced by mix
ing quantity Of sulphuric acid with
almost double the amount of nitric acid
and allowing it to cool About one
eighth of the total weight of glycerin is
then added gradually the mixture be-
ing kept below q temperature of 10 de-
grees f. by passing air and cold water
through it. After the mixture has stood
a sufficient time the acids are drawn off,
and the residue (nitroglycerin) is wash.
ed and filtered.
Nitroglycerin cannot be ignited easily
by flame, and a lighted match or ia
per plunged into it would be extinguish-
ed. 1t is sensitive to friction or percus-
sion, either of which will detonate it.
the temperature the more sensitive it
becomes. 1t will solidify at temper.
ature Of 40 degrees, and its explosive
force is estimated to be about twelve
times that of gunpowder
One OF the most approved methods
used in the manufacture of gun cotton
is this: The raw cotton is torn into
shreds, dried and dipped in mixture
Of sulphuric and nitric acids 1t is then
placed in stream of running water and
washed thoroughly. The cotton is then
wrung out, usually in a centrifugal ma
chine.
1t is afterward boiled. dried, cut into
pulp and pressed into disks When the
gun cotton is finished, there should be
no trace Of the acids remaining Vase.
line, the other component part of cor.
dite, is the we'll known extract from Pc
troleum, and its usefulness is chiefly to
lubricate the bore of the gun and thus
lessen the friction between it and the
projectile. It also has a tendency to i'm
part waterproof nature to cordite
A colorless liquid prepared from ace
tate of lime, called acetone, is used as q
solvent in the manufacture Of cordite.
The method of preparing the explosive
is: The required proportion of nitro
glycerin is poured over the gun cotton,
and the two with the addition of ace
tone, are kneaded together into stiff
paste. Vaseline is then added, and the
whole compound, after being thorough
ly mixed, is put into machine and the
cordite pressed out and cut into lengths
after which it is dried.
To the artillerist the nature of cordite
is represented by fraction whose nu-
merator gives in hundredths of an inch
the diameter of the die through which
the cordite has been pressed, its denom-
inator being the length of the stick in
inches The cordite known as 3O-12,
which is the size used for the inch
quick firing guns, signifies that its di-
ameter is three-tenths of an inch. and
II 10 - inches long
1t Il necessary to use o fine grain
powder to ignite charge Of cordite, it