The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-15
CORDITE AND ITS POWER.
TIE SO-Callcd Smokeless Powder Now
Used i'm Big Guns.

TIE So-CaIled Smokeless Powder Now
Used in Big Guns.
Since the advent Of the speedy torpedo
boat and since rapid-hre guns have been
placed on battleships and cruisers an
explosive that would allow TO the OIL
GERS and gunners an unObstructed view
Of an enemy under all conditions has
been sought and thousands Of dollars
have been expended I'm the effort TO OBJ
tain a satisfactory substitute for black
gunpowder Cordite the latest explosive
is said 10 be the most satisfactory pro-
pellant OF modern times for naval war
fare. and the general expert opinion
seems TO be that IN a few years gun
powder as now understood viii have van
ished.
The earliest records Of established pow
der mills show that there was only one
IN operation IN 1890. this one being In Eng
land. During the year 1851 the Waltham
Abbey Powder Mills were purchased by
the English Government They are still
conducted by it. The Faversham mills,
which up 10 that date were TIE largest
in the world. passed into the hands Of
private corporation in 1915. The manufac-
ture Of powder was continued without
much Improvement except in the efii-
cheney Of the grinding and mixing ma
ago. the formula for black powder being
saltpetre 70 parts, charcoal 10 parts. and
sulphur 10 parts the whole forming a
mechanical mixture and not a chemical
compound.
The actual chemical result OF the explo-
sion Of q charge of gunpOwder cannot be
told with accuracy. The general idea
of what happens is that when the tenn
perature Of the ignitins agent reaches
~ - sf. .f-Hnr Irr fa
into flame; the saltpetre. acted upon by
the heat. freezes the oxygen with which
IL IS highly charged, and. combining with
the charcoal. forms carbOnic acid and
oxide while the nitrogen IS liberated.
The products Of combustion are approx
imately 81 per cent. Of solid matter and
AZ per cent Of permanent gases.
i'm earlier DAYS Of ordnance only small
grains Of powder were used. but as the
guns increased in size the size OF the
grains was also increased 10 pebble size
and afterwards TO the various prlsmatic
sizes and forms that were popular
decade ago. The reason for increasing
the size Of the powder grains was that
the small grain powder gave a great ig-
hitting surface and at times the charge
was consumed before the prOiectile was
fairly in motion, producing initial wave
pressures in the breach of the gun that
were of a highly dangerous character
With a larger grain there Is less burning
surface exposed. which naturally eXerts
a continuous force on the prOjectile until
Il reaches the muZzle OF the gun. The
results obtained were satisfactory 10 a
degree. but there was some OF the charge
that was not consumed and left the muz-
zle Of the gun along with the projectile.
With the prism powders came an alter
alton in the proportions of the explosive,
which, from its brown color was named
cocoa powder 1t contained saltpetre. y
parts; charcoal. IS parts; sulphur. 3
parts the charcoal used being made from
straw carbonized by steam. The carbon
thus produced retained the amount OF
moisture required for pressing II into
shape With the introduction Of quick
firing guns the "prism-brown" powders
gave way gradually TO smokeless explo-
sives, which up 20 that time had been
dream Of naval gunners. Smokeless pow
der became absolutely a necessity. for
the reason that smOke-producing powders
masked the object aimed at, and the tor
pedO boat, which was becoming a recOg-
niZed feature Of naval warfare could
dash up and discharge one or more dead
ly missiles under cover of the smoke.
SmOkeless powders We're first produced
in France, and for some time the secret
~. As soon as the necessity for this kind
OF powder became apparent. however, a
number Of manufacturers devoted atten-
ton 10 II, and as a result various brands
OF smokeess explosives were placed on
the market.
The most satisfactory results eventu-
ally made their appearance in cordite,
which was produced through experiments
made by Prof. Dewar and Sir Frederick
Abel. Cordite IS composed OF nitro-glyc-
crime IS per cent, guncotton 81 per cent.
and vaseline per cent. Nitro-glycerine
IS an oily. colorless liquid, and an active
poison. 1t is produced by mixing a guam
tity OF sulphuric acid with almost double
the amount of nitric acid and allowing It
TO cool: about one-eighth of the total
weight OF glycerine is then added grad
ually. the mixture being kept below a
temperature Of 20 degrees Fahrenheit by
passing air and cold water through It.
After the mixture has stood a sufficient
time the acids are drawn off and the
residue -glycerine) IS washed and
altered.
Nitro-glycerine cannot be ignlted
easily by a flame. and lighted match
or taper plunged into II would be extin-
guished. 1t is sensitive to friction or
percussion. either OF which will detonate
It. Another peculiarly is that the higher
the temperature. the more sensitive II
becomes II will soldlfy at a tempera-
ture OF 40 degrees, and its explosive force
IS estimated 70 be about twelve times
that OF gunpowder.
One OF the most approved methods used
in the manufacture OF guncotten os this.
Ths raw cotton is torn into shreds
dried and dipped in a mixture OF sulphur
rio and nitric acids. II is then placed
in a stream OF running water and washed
thoroughly. The cotton is then rung out
usually in a centrifugal machine.
1t Is aftsrward boiled. dried. Qua E-p