The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-02
'sMOKELEss POWDER.

'SMUAEuESO IVWDLh.
coRDiTE THE MOST POTENT tx
I! PLoslvE OF MODERN TIMES.
It Is Composed Of Nitroglycerin, Gun Cot
ton and vaseline-The Interesting Proc
ess by Which Its Dangerous Elements
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 gunners an unobstructed
view Of an 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 for naval
warfare, and the expert opinion seems
to be that in few years gunpowder as
now understood will have vanished.
The earliest records of established
powder mills show that there was only
one In operation in 1900, this one being
in England. During the year 1887 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 private corporation
in 1915. The manufacture Of powder
was continued without much improve
ment, except in the efficiency Of the
grinding and mixing machinery, until
about 85 years ago, the formula for
black powder being saltpeter rs parts,
charcoal is parts and sulphur 10 parts,
the whole forming mechanical mix
ture and not 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
jealousy. 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 So per cent, gun cotton 81
per cent and vaseline per cent Nitro
glycerin is an oily, colorless liquid and
an active poison. It 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 temperature Of 10 de-
grees F. by passing air and cold water
through it. After the mixture has stood
sufficient time the acids are drawn of,
and the residue (nitroglycerin) is wash
ed and filtered.
Nitroglycerin cannot be ignited easily
by fame, and 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
Another popularity is that the higher
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. It is then
placed in a stream Of running water and
washed thoroughly. The cotton is then
wrung out, usually in centrifugal ma
chine.
It is afterward boiled, dried, cut into
pulp and pressed into disks. When tho
gun cotton is finished, there should DO
no trace of the acids remaining. Vase
line the other component part Of cor
dite, is the well known extract from Pc
troleum, and its usefulness is chiefly to
Intricate the bore Of the gun and thus
lessen the friction between it and the
projectile. 1t also has tendency to i'm
! part q waterproof nature to cordite.
A colorless liquid prepared from acc
tate of lime, called acetone, is used as a
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 kncaded 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 tho length Of the stick in
inches. The cordito known as S0.l2,
which is the size used for the 6 inch
quick firing guns, signifies that its di-
ameter is three tenths of an inch, and
it is ~ inches long.
1t is necessary to use fine grain
powder to ignite charge Of cordite, it
being secured in such manner that
flash from the tube firing the gun will
cause the explosion of the charge. A
full charge of powder for l9 inch gun
is 295 ponds, while the cordite charge,
having the same efficiency, is only 1919
pounds.
Cordite is ono Of the safest explosives
known, and is not dangerous unless it
is confined. 1t can be held in the hand
and lighted without danger. 1t burns
slowly and with q bright flame. AL
though comparatively new discovery,
1t is used extensively in every navy
throughout the world. 1t was manufac-
tured first in Great Britain and was in
general use on her battlesllips before
adopted by other powers New York
Eun.